Chapter 11 Promoting Children’s Safety Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 207 To properly supervise a group of children, keep your back to the classroom wall. Focus on the interior of the classroom. The entire room should be visible. Move closer to an area if you observe children who need assistance or redirection. Likewise, constantly observe children who are not involved in an activity. Be especially protective of younger children. Usually, younger children require more staff supervision than older children. Bumps and bruises can occur in overcrowded classrooms. Make sure there is enough space for furniture and equipment. Observe children as they play. Can they move from area to area without bumping into furniture or other children? If suffi cient space does not exist, remove some furniture or rearrange the classroom. Maintain Minimum Adult-Child Ratios Adult-child ratio relates directly to safety. A classroom should never have fewer adults than required by state law for its age level and group size. Having more adults than the minimum is even safer. These extra adults can step in quickly to protect children when unsafe situations arise. At least the minimum number of staff members set by your state’s licensing rules must be present at all times. Failure to comply may result in the center’s license being revoked or a citation indicating the center was not in compliance. Remember, too, if a child is injured and staff/child ratios are not being met, center staff may be held liable. Develop Safety Limits Limits are guides to actions and behaviors that refl ect the goals of a program. Limits have also been called rules. The most important limits set by early childhood teachers involve safety issues. These limits protect the children in the classroom. Make safety limits clear, simple, and easy for children to understand. Some typical safety limits include: • Walk indoors. Do not run. • Use blocks for building, not for hitting. • Wipe up spills right away. • Tell the teacher when equipment breaks. • Always fasten your seat belt when riding in the center’s van. • Always use safety straps on equipment when available (Figure 11.2). Figure 11.2 Child care teachers should use safety straps when available on outside equipment. SAFETY FIRST SAFETY FIRST Reducing the Risk of Abuse— Facility Layout In order to protect children from abuse, early childhood facilities should be arranged so all areas of the center are visible by at least one other adult in addition to the care provider. An arrangement that provides high visibility eliminates isolation of children and the child care staff. To enhance visibility and safety, child care facilities may also use video surveillance equipment or other such devices.