Lovely Anne C.

Reyes II BECED 2

Outdoor Safety
Children love to play outdoors. Keeping children safe outdoors requires some
special precautions. A safe environment encourages exploration and play
behaviors in young children. Therefore, a safe environment is very important for
teachers of young children and child care centers. When parents bring their
children to a child care center, they expect them to be safe. They assume the
playground, equipment, toys, and other materials will be safe for children to use
and that teachers will carefully supervise their activities. These expectations
require teachers to be well informed and knowledgeable about how to create and
maintain environments that ensure children’s health and safety.
Classroom toys and other equipment are required to be sanitized on a daily basis,
as this will reduce germs from spreading around. All child care centers are
required to have adequate washing sinks, toilets, soap dispensers, and a towel
rack. Having the right size fixtures allows children to care for their own needs. The
bathroom facilities need to be accessible to both indoor and outdoor play areas.
Windows and glass doors that are reachable to young children should be made of
safety glass or plastic to avoid serious injuries to children if a window or door is
broken. Doors and windows should be covered with blinds or shades to control the
light and should also have locks. General outdoor safety tips for child care are
never leave children alone outside, teach children not to play near the street,
explain that children must ask for help if toys roll into the street or driveway, check
the outdoor play area routinely. remove trash, sharp branches, tools, lawn
equipment, and animal feces. Safe set-up of the outdoor environment is be sure all
outdoor play areas are fenced, especially near a street, parking lot, pond, well, or
railroad track, surround electrical appliances in the play area, such as air
conditioners, with fences so children cannot reach them, remove gas grills from
outdoor play areas, keep gates closed and install childproof latches, Lock storage
sheds, barns, and garages. Safety with tricycles and other riding toys are require
children to use helmets when using tricycles, bicycles, skateboards, roller skates,
and ride-on toys, reduce choking risks by having children remove helmets when
playing on playground equipment, use safety straps to secure children in strollers,
do not put children who cannot sit up well in wagons with low sides. Establish safe
play areas let your kids know the street is not a safe area to be, even if their toy or
ball goes there. The younger the child is, it’s best to limit their play area to the
front or backyard at first, and expand it as the child gets older. Using an outdoor
security camera, you can record safe play areas and key an eye on kids through live
home security footage.

Be aware of surroundings common play areas like a field or a playground can hold
hidden safety hazards, so it’s important to examine these areas before playing in
them. Keep an eye out for sharp objects, broken glass, and other dangers. When
playing outside children should wear shoes to protect their feet from safety
hazards hidden in grass or dirt surfaces. Although children sometimes fall from
playground equipment, you can reduce the risk of injury by keeping an eye your
children, encouraging the use of age-appropriate equipment and allowing them to
explore creative but safe ways to move.