Creating a safe environment for
children must be a priority of every caregiver – a parent and an early
childhood educator. A safe environment for a child is one that provides freedom
from harm and offers a sense of security in which he/she can play, develop, and
learn. As young children play and explore, minor injuries and accidents
naturally occur. Since young children are at a stage where their physical,
cognitive and emotional skills are still developing, injuries are bound to
happen. These accidents can however be prevented. The first step towards
providing for safety is to ensure that the preschool follows strict safety
guidelines.
At Preschool in Faridabad every
aspect needs to be carefully supervised, right from the toys and equipments, to
the furniture and the classroom infrastructure.
Check for safety….
• Do
the toys and furniture have sharp edges?
• Are
the toys washed on a regular basis?
• Is
the school clean, safe and secure?
• Are
all the electrical fittings beyond the child’s reach?
• Are
the bathrooms clean?
• Are
there gates in front of the stairways?
• Is
the outdoor area fenced?
CLASSROOM
Check for all safety hazards
within the classroom. Plug points need to be beyond the child’s reach. All
loose cords should be tied to avoid children getting trapped. There should be
no gaps where the children’s fingers, arms or legs can get caught. These are
gaps between parts or holes in the furniture’s, equipments, etc. Ensure that
there are no sharp or pointed edges on any equipments or furniture. It is
important that the classrooms are bright and colourful, but at the same time we
must ensure that the paints used are non-toxic and lead-free. Use doorstoppers
and ensure that the doorknobs are beyond the child’s reach. This will ensure
that no child can open or close the door themselves. The stairs need to have
safety gates and the windows need to be grilled.
Check all the toys and play
materials used in the classroom. Ensure that they are clean as children are
likely to put them in their mouth. No toy that is broken or that has sharp
edges must be used. Art materials such as paints, crayons, or play dough must
be non-toxic. Above all check the quality of the toys used.
OUTDOORS
Children engage in outdoor play
every day. Outdoor activities include playing on large motor equipments such as
swings, trampolines, slides, etc, water and sand play etc. As children play
with such equipments we need to ensure that these are safe. Outdoor activities
should be conducted in an open area. The outdoor area needs to be fenced and
all equipments need to be placed on a shock-absorbing surface such as sand or
grass. It is important that all the materials are clean and have no sharp
edges. Teach children some basic rules of playground safety, such as not
climbing up slides or walking in front of or behind a swing when another child
is on it.
Constantly supervise children
when they engage in water play or sand play. Plastic tubs or inflatable pools
can be used during water play. Children must not duck their face into water and
neither taken in or taste water. The water should neither be hot nor cold. Use
water toys of good quality. After the water play, ensure that all the toys are
removed from the water. Similarly for sand play, use sand that is free of dirt
and is well sieved.
WASHROOM SAFETY
The bathroom is a potentially
dangerous area for children, but it is not possible to make this area out of
bounds for the child. Thus it should be carefully planned. The floor surface
should be anti-slip to prevent falls since the surface is likely to be slippery
due to water. The attendants must keep the floor free of spillages to avoid
accidents. Keep all disinfectants, acids, brooms etc beyond child’s reach. No
child must be allowed in the washroom unattended.
In case of an emergency,
administer first aid to the child, seek medical help and contact the parents
immediately.
Safety is the right of the child
and they must have it.
