Chapter 2: Safe Spaces

Appropriate outdoor equipment for infants and toddlers

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 90 percent of injuries to children can be prevented. Most common injuries are the result of not considering a child's developmental ability. Infants and toddlers should not play on outdoor play equipment that is designed for preschoolers and older children.

Supervision of swimming and wading activities

All staff-to-children ratios required by 22VAC40-185-350 E, G, and H must be maintained while children are participating in swimming or wading activities. Additionally, at no time can there be fewer than two staff members supervising swimming and wading activities. Staff must have a system to account for all children in the water and it must be practiced by all staff. Be sure that you and other staff members are positioned around the area so that all children can be seen, heard, directed, and assessed. You should continually scan and count children and anticipate children's behavior to be ready to intervene as needed. Note: The designated certified lifeguard cannot be counted in the staff-to-children ratios.

Look for proper labels

Always choose art materials created specifically for children's use. The Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI), a nonprofit association of over 200 manufacturers of art materials, conducts a certification program to test art materials to determine if the ingredients are safe for children's use. Art products are tested and then labeled to indicate if the materials are safe or unsafe for use by children. Look for art materials with the AP (Approved Product) seal from the Art and Creative Materials Institute. AP certified art materials are tested, proven to be nontoxic, and safe for use with young children. There are art materials on the market that list "nontoxic" on their labels without the Art and Creative Materials Institute AP seal. Before use of art materials without the AP seal, the manufacturer of the art product should be contacted for confirmation that proper testing has been done to ensure the product is nontoxic. Choose art materials with the AP Seal to assure that the product was properly evaluated and is nontoxic for both children and adults. An art product that has not been properly tested may not cause immediate problems, but there may be dangers if children use uncertified art materials over time.

Appropriate outdoor equipment for school-age youth (ages 5-12 years)

Appropriate outdoor play equipment for school-age youth includes: • Arch climbers• Chain or cable walks • Free standing climbing equipment with flexible parts • Fulcrum seesaws • Ladders - horizontal, rung, and step • Overhead rings• Merry-go-rounds • Ramps • Ring treks• Slides • Spiral slides more than one 360° turn • Stairways • Swings - belt and rotating tire • Track rides • Vertical sliding poles

Bulletin boards

Are there pushpins, thumbtacks, or staples used to hang paperwork or signs on bulletin boards or walls? What if a child finds a pushpin on the floor and puts it in his mouth? Remove all small objects that could be choking hazards to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who explore with their mouths.

Safe art materials

Art is a great way to encourage children to try new things and be creative. Because young children explore with their mouths, select art supplies and art activities to use with young children carefully. Other dangers from art materials can occur when children breathe dust or fumes from harmful art materials or if chemicals are absorbed through children's skin.

Button batteries: More than a choking risk

Button batteries from toys, remote controls, watches, flashing jewelry, shoes, musical greeting cards, and many other items are a particular concern around young children. The biggest risk when a child swallows a button battery is burning, not choking. A child can swallow a button battery and suffer dangerous chemical burns in as little as two hours.

Poles

Cover floor-to-ceiling support poles in the room with cushioned padding so young crawlers and walkers will not get hurt if they bump into a pole.

Sharp edges

Cover sharp edges or corners on furniture or equipment with padding so children won't get hurt if they bump into furniture or fall.

Outlet covers

Covers for electrical outlets are necessary to keep curious children's fingers or toys from getting shocked. Check outlet covers to make sure they fit tightly into the outlet so small fingers cannot easily remove them. If you remove an outlet cover, make sure to place it out of the reach of children until you return it to the outlet. Outlet covers are small and can be choking hazards for young explorers.

Water safety

Drowning is the number one cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1 to 4 years (CDC 2016). Young children can drown in less than two inches of water (AAP et al. 2019). That means that drowning can happen when you least expect it: from water in a sink, the toilet, fountains, dishpans, buckets, wading pools, ornamental ponds, puddles, and ditches filled with rainwater. You need to carefully supervise children whenever they are playing in or around water.

Safe outdoor spaces

Each year there are roughly 211,000 children in the United States who go to hospital emergency departments for injuries received from play on playground equipment. To take away outdoor play because it's a high risk activity is not the answer. Children need fresh air and active outdoor play times every day, if the weather allows, for growth and development. How can you reduce the risk of outdoor play so it is safe for children? Most outdoor play accidents are the result of falls from play equipment. Plan outdoor play activities that do not involve equipment to reduce the risk of children getting hurt. Use your notes page to make a list of activities that children could do outdoors without using play equipment. Think about ways to use balls, hula hoops, jump ropes, plastic cones, and other equipment. If the outdoor play space includes play equipment, there should be rubber mats or at least nine inches of wood chips, mulch, or shredded rubber under play equipment to reduce the risk of children getting hurt if they fall. Look for sharp edges and dangerous hardware, like open "S" hooks or bolts that protrude and could catch children's clothing. Remove big sticks, bottles, broken glass, trash, animal feces, nails, and other things that could harm children before they go outside to play.

Use art materials safely

Follow these safety precautions when you use art materials with young children: • Read the labels of art materials and make sure the "AP" (Approved Product) seal from the Art and Creative Materials Institute is present on any art materials to be used with young children. • Do not allow the children to eat or drink while they use art materials. • Avoid use of the original paint container. Pour the amount of paint needed for the day's activity into smaller containers and seal the original container so the paint inside doesn't become contaminated. If there is paint left at the end of an activity, discard it by rinsing in the sink, or pour leftover paint into a sealed container and place it in a covered trash can. • Wash the children's hands, your own hands, art supplies, and tables in the art area after use. • If you add water to paint for the children to use, throw away any paint that is left at the end of the activity. Water can dilute preservatives in paint that guard against bacteria and mold. • Never use art products for painting skin or in the preparation of food unless the product label indicates it is safe for those special uses. • Keep art materials in their original containers with labels that include the list of ingredients and safety information. • Provide appropriate supervision whenever children are using art materials.

Communication: The key to team supervision

For example, if one team member steps out of the room to answer a personal cell phone, that places the responsibility for supervision of the entire group of children on one person. If one team member leaves the room to get supplies for an art activity, one person is left to supervise all of the children in the room.

Toys

Frequently check toys for tears, loose pieces that may fall off, or other signs of wear. Toy safety is explored in more detail later in this module.

Heavy furniture

Heavy furniture and equipment should be securely fastened to the wall to prevent it from being pulled over or from falling on a child. Remove heavy items from high shelves to prevent them from falling on a child.

Requirements for swimming areas

If a pool, lake, or other swimming area has a water depth of more than two feet, a certified lifeguard must be on duty at all times to supervise the children participating in swimming or wading activities whenever one or more children are in the water. The designated certified lifeguard cannot be counted in the staff-to-children ratios. The lifeguard's certification must be current from an organization such as, but not limited to, the American Red Cross, the YMCA, or the Boy Scouts. A whistle or other audible signaling device, a buoy or a lemon line, a reach pole, and a backboard shall be available at the swimming or wading site. Outdoor swimming activities can only occur during daylight hours unless underwater and deck lighting is provided. If a permanent swimming or wade pool is located on the premises of the center, the manufacturer's specifications for operating the pool, local ordinances, and Department of Health requirements for swimming pools must be followed. If the pool was constructed, renovated, or remodeled after April 1, 1986, programs must have a written pool inspection report and approval to use the pool from the local building official.

Portable wading pools

If a portable wading pool without an integral filter system is used, it must be emptied, rinsed, and filled with clean water after each group of children use it or more frequently if necessary. Portable wading pools must be emptied and sanitized daily and stored in a position to keep them clean and dry. Children who are not toilet trained may not use portable wading pools.

Other swimming areas

If children are allowed to swim in a lake or other places besides a pool, safe swimming areas must be clearly marked, and appropriate water safety equipment must be available. Piers, floats, and platforms are to be in good repair and, if used for diving, the minimum water depth has to be stated on the deck or planking.

Team supervision

In a program where more than one ECE professional is in the room, it is not necessary for each adult to see all of the children at all times. But it is necessary that each child is seen, heard, directed, and assessed by at least one of the ECE professionals at all times. To make sure this happens at all times, communication with co-workers is critical.

Safety locks

Install safety locks on low cabinets and drawers if cabinets and drawers contain materials that children should not access.

Personal items

Keep purses and other personal belongings in a locked cabinet or locked storage closet. Create a place on a high shelf where family members can safely place purses, keys, or other personal items to keep them out of children's reach as family members drop off or pick up a child. Be sure to show family members this location so they can safely store personal items during pickup or drop off so young explorers do not have access to them.

Naptime lighting

Lowered window shades and dim lights at naptime can help children to calm down and prepare to rest. However, make sure there is enough light in the room where children are napping so you can see each child as he or she sleeps. Never place a blanket or anything else across the top of a crib to block the light for a sleeping infant. You need to be able to see sleeping infants and toddlers to properly supervise them.

Naptime supervision

Most preschoolers need an afternoon nap, though this usually ends by age five. Nap and rest times should be routinely planned for each day. For children unable to sleep, quiet time activities, like reading a book, should be offered. A safe, consistent nap routine can help to establish and continue healthy sleep and napping practices. Children thrive when they know what to expect, so a naptime routine helps a child to relax and get ready for sleep. Naps help young children get the recommended daily amount of sleep that they need to help them function at their best. Infants and many young toddlers should be kept on individualized routines—infants and young toddlers should nap whenever they are tired. Very young infants need five to six naps each day. By the time an infant reaches one year of age, the number of naps drops to two per day. In a mixed age room with infants and toddlers, some children sleep while other children are awake throughout the day. Between the ages of fifteen to eighteen months, most toddlers no longer need a morning nap and are ready to begin an afternoon naptime routine. Toddlers in most child care facilities follow an afternoon naptime routine where all children nap at the same time.

what can you do to help make outdoor play safer for the infants and toddlers in your care?

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.

Window decals

Next, check higher in the room and consider the "what ifs." Do you use removable decals to decorate windows or doors? What could happen if a decal falls to the floor and an infant or toddler finds it?

Window blinds

Older infants, toddlers, and preschoolers pull on anything they can reach. Young children can get tangled in cords from window blinds, telephones, and electrical cords, and possibly strangle. Blinds and cords should be securely fastened out of children's reach. Place furniture away from windows with window blinds so children will not be able to climb on a chair and reach the cord.

Swimming pools

Outdoor swimming pools must be enclosed by safety fences and gates in compliance with Virginia USBC (13VAC5-62) and locked when the pool is not in use. Entrances to indoor swimming pools must be locked when the pool is not in use.

#1 Cause of childhood death

Preventable Injuries

Door hinges

Protective hinge guards on doors can prevent injuries to children's fingers and toes.

Supervise children for safety What does it mean to supervise young children? Supervision is far more than simply being physically present with the children. For quality supervision, child care professionals need to be able to:

SEE the children in care. HEAR the children in care. DIRECT the children when needed. ASSESS the children's needs.

Correct common hazards

Safety for children is an everyday job and responsibility for every facility director and ECE professional who works with children.

What universal rules for outdoor play would be helpful to the children and adults who use the outdoor play space where you work?

Sit down on the swings and slow down before getting off. Use both hands when climbing. Avoid climbing on wet equipment. Never climb up the front of slides. Avoid walking in front of swings. Avoid broken equipment. Avoid pushing or shoving.

Safe toys for infants and toddlers

Small toys and small parts on toys may be a choking risk for young children who explore with their mouths. A baby's throat can stretch to a width of nearly one and one-half inches. The diameter of the cardboard tube inside a roll of paper towels or toilet paper is nearly the same size as the diameter of a young child's throat. Use a paper towel or toilet paper tube to check toys and other objects in and around your child care space to eliminate choking risks.

Safety concerns and child development

Some safety concerns change as children grow and develop. For example, it is not safe for young infants to sleep with toys, including stuffed animals, in their cribs due to risk of suffocation. However, when the child grows and is able to roll from lying on his back to his stomach and back again without help, a favorite stuffed animal is no longer a safety risk during sleep. Toddlers who play on equipment designed for older children are at a greater risk for accidents. Sliding boards and climbers over two feet in height, merry-go-rounds, and lots of other outdoor play equipment are designed for children who are bigger, stronger, and have more control of their bodies than toddlers.

Rules for swimming and wading

The center must have emergency procedures and written safety rules for swimming or wading or follow the posted rules of public pools. Procedures must be posted in the swimming area when the pool is located on the premises of the center. Staff are to explain procedures to children before they participate in swimming or wading activities. The center must receive and maintain written permission from the parent of each child who participates in swimming or wading along with a statement from the parent indicating the level of the child's swimming skills before the child is allowed in water above the child's shoulder height.

More toy hazards

Toys with long strings or cords are dangerous for young children. The cords can wrap around a young child's neck and cause strangulation. Never hang toys with long strings, cords, loops, or ribbons in or across children's cribs. Small magnets, found in many toys for children and common on home refrigerators, are not appropriate toys for young children who put toys in their mouths to explore. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other through a child's stomach and intestines and cause holes and severe damage. Broken and deflated balloons can choke or suffocate a child who swallows them. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, more children have suffocated on deflated balloons or pieces of broken balloons than on any other type of toy.

Equipment

Use shields or screens to keep small children and small fingers away from air conditioners, heating vents, heaters, fans, and humidifiers.

Maintain toys for safety

Well-loved toys get a lot of use. Frequently check toys for tears, loose pieces that may fall off, or other signs of wear. If a stuffed toy tears, a child may choke on the stuffing that is inside the toy. Rattles, squeeze toys, and teethers often have small pieces inside them that could cause choking if the toy cracks or breaks and a child swallows the small pieces. Throw away any toys with sharp edges, splinters, or cracks. Mend or throw away any soft toys with tears.

Appropriate outdoor equipment for preschoolers

When outdoor play equipment is developmentally appropriate, children can safely practice gross motor skills without putting themselves at risk for injury.

Harmful objects and materials

Young children want to explore anything they can reach. Make sure all harmful items are labeled "keep out of reach of children," including soaps, cleaners, dish detergents, hand lotions, air fresheners, medicines, plastic bags, sharp scissors, and other harmful materials. Store them out of children's reach in locked cabinets. Bottles of sanitizing and disinfecting solutions and diaper creams should be stored on high shelves for easy access to adults, but out of the reach of children.

What should you do? A neighbor cleans her craft room and donates a box of art supplies to your child care program. Many of the art supplies in the box are in unmarked jars or plastic food containers. There are no "AP" seals on any of the labeled materials. What should you do?

a. Although you are concerned about the safety of the art materials for use by young children, you decide the materials will be fine for older children to use since they won't put the materials in their mouths. b. The art materials in the box look very interesting, so you decide to use the art materials with careful supervision to make sure none of the children use their mouths to explore them. c. Without clear labels and no sign of the AP seal on any of the art materials in the box, you decide the materials are not safe for children's use and throw them away. ANSWER: C

What should you do? A family recently donated a box of toys to your child care program. As you look through the box, you find that many of the toys are worn and some are cracked or broken. What should you do?

a. Select toys in good condition, wash all toys, and then give them to the children. Throw away broken or unsafe toys. b. Select duplicate toys that are popular. Wash all toys before giving them to children. Use extra toys for outdoor play. c. Set the box of toys on the floor for the children to explore and see if you can identify any safety hazards. d. Select toys in good condition, wash all toys, then give them to children. Donate the rest to a second-hand store. ANSWER: A

Consider your space Think carefully about the outdoor play area of the facility where you work.

• Are there blind spots where it would be difficult to see children playing? Check such areas frequently. • Where are the areas of highest risk in the outdoor play space? Stand close by to supervise. • Does the play space have equipment, such as a climber, swings, sliding board, or others? Watch for children who wander into the play zone of the equipment. Stay close to the equipment. The majority of playground injuries are due to falls from playground equipment. That makes playground equipment a high risk area. You can reduce the risk through supervision of children as they play on equipment and by making sure children follow safety rules.If centers have large outdoor play spaces that are shared by several groups at the same time, universal rules that are used by all children and staff in the center make supervision easier.

Safety guidelines for buying toys

• Choose toys carefully. • Look for quality construction and design in toys for children of all ages. • Read and heed age level recommendations on toy labels. • Keep in mind children's ages, interests, and skill levels when you purchase toys.

Appropriate outdoor play equipment for infants and toddlers includes:

• Climbing equipment up to 32 inches in height Ramps • Single file step ladders • Slides with an exit height of 6 inches or less • Spiral slides with less than 360-degree turn • Spring rockers • Stairways • Swings with full bucket seats

Appropriate outdoor play equipment for preschoolers includes:

• Climbing equipment up to 60 inches high • Horizontal ladders and overhead rings 60 inches high or less for four- to five-year-olds • Merry-go-rounds • Ramps • Rung ladders • Single file step ladders • Slides • Spiral slides up to one 360° turn • Spring rockers • Stairways • Swings - belt, full bucket (2-4yrs.), and rotating tire • Balance beams up to 12 inches high

What safety features do you have in your notes? Compare your list with the list below of recommended safety features:

• Toys and materials are stored within children's reach. • Low shelves are easy for adults to see over and around to supervise children. • Low shelves are more stable than high shelves and less likely to fall on children. • Room is clean and free of clutter. • Toys are in good repair. • Toys are appropriate for the ages of children in the program. • Room is divided into areas to support play. • Open spaces make it easier to see children to supervise them.

Safe toys for young children

• Toys should be free of sharp points, glass, and metal edges. • Avoid toys that make loud noises that could damage a child's hearing. • Avoid toys that fire objects with sharp points, such as arrows, darts, pencils, or nails.

Many of the safety considerations for young children are based on two key factors:

• Young children are curious. • Young children like to explore.