Wednesday, February 29, 2012
New Program of Study
For the purposes of my new program of study, I am creating a new blog post. I have current new knowledge about the field of Early Childhood Education that I can use for my future career. Since my last blogs, I have discovered that my passion to teach children grows more and more unique every day. I love to see children smile and hear their interactions. I also love when they trust in us to be there for them and we guide them safely and effectively. you will continue to see more postings about my knowledge and experiences. So keep following.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Safety Practices and Policies
In working with preschoolers there are some potentially hazardous safety threats that are common to the age group of children 3-5. Five potential situations/ safety threats are outdoor equipment, play space, water safety, toy safety, and age- appropriate activities and equipment.
For outdoor equipment children love to climb and run so there needs to be measures used to ensure the safety of the children. Outdoor equipment needs to have shock absorbers, and padded material for equipment to prevent and aid in falls if they might happen. Hazardous threats in outdoor equipment include those made of metal which can rust and cause cuts if they break, and wood which can splinter. Plastic equipment is modern and safer to use (Robertson, C. (2010), p.147-48).
Play space is the area in which the children play and use to exercise in. The space needs to accommodate all of the children and be a safe for all of them. Also, teacher supervision must be present at all times to ensure safety of the children. The play space has to be a range of so many feet per child for adequate room for play. Safety measures can include making sure that the teacher has an eye of the whole space being used by the children in order to ensure proper supervision, the equipment is separate from other areas where children can avoid collisions, and the levels of the play equipment has to support the size and stature of the children.
For water safety in a childcare setting the water temperature cannot reach to a scalding point because of the risk of burns. Also, if there are pools, or bodies of water nearby there should be adequate fencing and covers to aid in the prevention of drowning. Safety policies include supervision of children at all times, and have the required devices such as floater's and teachers assistants if in the pool with the children.
Toy safety for 3-5 year old must be age- appropriate and safe from choking or injury. Toys should accommodate learning and riding toys should be "sturdy and be well- balanced" (Robertson, C. (2010). p.148). Also avoiding giving children small balls is important to prevent them from swallowing them or choking on them.Teachers also need to make sure that the children are assisted in taking turns so they prevent them falling or getting injured. Toys need to be inspected prior to introducing them to the children and recall lists need to be watched and reviewed often.
Activities need to be age-appropriate for the children. Toys are labeled upon purchase of the hazards and age limits. It is a good idea to pay attention to the limitations before purchasing toys. Some regulations include making sure the toys are appropriate for the children and the toys accommodate the different age groups. Also, supervision is a must in the play environment.
Families can ensure the safety of the children at home by reading directions to labels, reading safety books, and going online to research safety guidelines for children of specific ages. Also, parents can talk to the teacher of the child's care facility to gain knowledge on how safety issues are practiced there. Here, parents can work with teachers to develop partnerships on their children's safety and health.
Resources
Robertson, C. (2010). Safety, nutrition, and health in early education (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.
For outdoor equipment children love to climb and run so there needs to be measures used to ensure the safety of the children. Outdoor equipment needs to have shock absorbers, and padded material for equipment to prevent and aid in falls if they might happen. Hazardous threats in outdoor equipment include those made of metal which can rust and cause cuts if they break, and wood which can splinter. Plastic equipment is modern and safer to use (Robertson, C. (2010), p.147-48).
Play space is the area in which the children play and use to exercise in. The space needs to accommodate all of the children and be a safe for all of them. Also, teacher supervision must be present at all times to ensure safety of the children. The play space has to be a range of so many feet per child for adequate room for play. Safety measures can include making sure that the teacher has an eye of the whole space being used by the children in order to ensure proper supervision, the equipment is separate from other areas where children can avoid collisions, and the levels of the play equipment has to support the size and stature of the children.
For water safety in a childcare setting the water temperature cannot reach to a scalding point because of the risk of burns. Also, if there are pools, or bodies of water nearby there should be adequate fencing and covers to aid in the prevention of drowning. Safety policies include supervision of children at all times, and have the required devices such as floater's and teachers assistants if in the pool with the children.
Toy safety for 3-5 year old must be age- appropriate and safe from choking or injury. Toys should accommodate learning and riding toys should be "sturdy and be well- balanced" (Robertson, C. (2010). p.148). Also avoiding giving children small balls is important to prevent them from swallowing them or choking on them.Teachers also need to make sure that the children are assisted in taking turns so they prevent them falling or getting injured. Toys need to be inspected prior to introducing them to the children and recall lists need to be watched and reviewed often.
Activities need to be age-appropriate for the children. Toys are labeled upon purchase of the hazards and age limits. It is a good idea to pay attention to the limitations before purchasing toys. Some regulations include making sure the toys are appropriate for the children and the toys accommodate the different age groups. Also, supervision is a must in the play environment.
Families can ensure the safety of the children at home by reading directions to labels, reading safety books, and going online to research safety guidelines for children of specific ages. Also, parents can talk to the teacher of the child's care facility to gain knowledge on how safety issues are practiced there. Here, parents can work with teachers to develop partnerships on their children's safety and health.
Resources
Robertson, C. (2010). Safety, nutrition, and health in early education (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.
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