This is how you create a safe playing environment
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A safe environment and a sense of security are crucial for a play environment. They prevent possible injuries and create a space where children feel free to explore and learn. This is important for classrooms as well as at home.
The four basic safety goals for schools are developing safe practices to help children stay safe, watching children to ensure they are safe, providing a safe environment and planning and carrying out fire safety drills. These goals focus on creating a safe playing environment, both indoors and outdoors.
Following research, Blair, Sayani, and Wortley (2015) emphasize the importance of early intervention and preventing missed opportunities for action. Their 3R approach includes: relationships (effective communication between professionals), roadmaps (following protocols within an organizational and human behavior framework) and recognition (recognition, putting the child at the center and identifying factors that build his/her resilience). This approach provides practical solutions for identifying safety issues and supporting professionals, children and their families.
Indoor play safety takes into account aspects such as safe toys and furniture, while outdoor play safety focuses on preventing possible hazards in the outdoor environment.
A safe play environment promotes learning by creating a space in which children feel safe and supported. This allows them to explore actively and independently, which is essential for their development.
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Buy at Bol.comWhat we discuss in this comprehensive post:
What are the four basic safety goals?
The four basic safety goals for schools are as follows.
- Developing safe practices to help children stay safe. This is important because it teaches children how to protect themselves.
- Supervising children to ensure they are safe. This is crucial because adults can see potential dangers that children may not notice.
- Providing a safe environment. Childcare centers must meet certain safety standards to protect children.
- Planning and carrying out fire safety exercises. This is important to prepare children and adults for possible emergencies.
For example, the European Child Safety Alliance, an initiative of the European Consumer Safety Association with a network of child injury prevention organizations across 25 member states in Europe, focuses on providing a safe play environment with strategies that help reduce injury-related deaths and disabilities in children.
How do you create a safe indoor play environment?
Indoor play areas are very important as a learning environment for children. According to the study “Children's Rough-and-Tumble Play in a Supportive Early Childhood Education and Care Environment” by Storli, R. (2021), children aged 3-5 years find indoor spaces with physically active play even more attractive than outdoor spaces, provided they are in a supportive environment.
To be safe to play games indoors first evaluate the materials and toys. Make sure they are safe for children and do not pose a choking hazard and check regularly for broken or unsafe items and replace if necessary.
Arrange spaces to promote independent play and provide clearly labeled shelves and encourage children to put away toys they are not using. This prevents tripping hazards.
Also add safety fences around dangerous areas. Use carpets and foam mats to cushion falls and make sure furniture is stable to prevent falls.
Fire safety is crucial, so make sure you have working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Develop plans for weather and emergency situations and practice them with regular drills. Make sure that the plan is clearly visible.
There are differences between safety in the classroom and at home. In the classroom there are often more children and more potentially dangerous situations. At home there is more control over the environment and fewer children to supervise.
How can you guarantee safety in an early childhood classroom?
Studies show that the health and safety of children is a growing concern. The number of child accidents remains unacceptably high (National Safe Kids Campaign, 2003).
To guarantee a child-safe classroom, there are various facets to take into account. Materials and equipment must be safe. Make sure furniture is rounded, remove sharp objects, and check toys regularly for possible choking hazards. It is crucial to keep the classroom clean and minimize clutter to prevent accidents.
Make sure that furniture is secure and that no dangerous objects are hidden. Carpets should be in good condition and broken or unsafe toys should be replaced immediately.
Even the plants in the classroom matter. They can contribute to a safe and healthy environment, but some plants can be poisonous to children. So it is important to choose the right plants and keep them out of the reach of children.
In addition, it is important to promote and maintain safe behavior, both inside and outside the classroom. Regular drills for emergencies such as fire or lockdown are essential. Parents must be aware of the emergency plan and this must be visible in the classroom.
Supervision of children is crucial, especially during playtime, and it is important to intervene when necessary to prevent accidents. Setting rules and enforcing them is an important way to promote safety in the classroom.
What are classroom-safe plants?
Plants are important in a classroom. They create an educational environment, add aesthetic value and improve air quality. Moreover, they are a great medium to teach children about nature. However, it is important to choose the right plants as some people may be sensitive to certain species.
Not all plants are safe for a classroom. Some can cause skin irritations or rashes in sensitive children. That's why it's essential to do a little research before choosing plants. Below is a list of safe plants for the classroom.
- spider-plant
- Sailing Boston
- Christmas cactus
- jade plant
- Snake plant
- Prayer plant
- Zebra plant
- Aluminum plant
- African violet
These plants are easy to care for and thrive in low light conditions, making them suitable for indoor spaces such as classrooms. Note: Plants such as English and Algerian ivy, weeping figs and yuccas should be avoided.
How do you guarantee safety at home?
To make your home safe for play, it's important to address and remove potential hazards. Here too, pay attention to furniture and ensure that it does not have sharp edges. Coffee tables are the biggest culprits of painful falls.
Extra precautions are needed around the stairs. Safe play areas can help prevent accidents.
What extra measures should you take around stairs?
The stairs are always interesting for children when they can crawl or walk so a safe environment around them is very important. Install stair gates at the top and bottom of the stairs to prevent young children from walking up or down the stairs without supervision. Make sure the gates are sturdy and use screws to secure them to the wall if necessary.
It is also important to keep the stairs free of clutter and toys to prevent tripping, this also applies to yourself and especially if you lift your child up and down the stairs. Make sure the stairs are always well lit to ensure visibility.
If you are carrying something, such as a baby, always use the handrail to keep your balance. Also teach children to use the handrail and guide them in safely ascending and descending the stairs.
How do you create a play corner that gives your child a safe feeling?
To create a play corner in which your child feels safe, first choose a quiet, visible place. The child needs to feel safe, but also involved in the rest of the house and probably wants to be able to see you. In addition, ensure a clear layout. This helps children have control over their space and activities.
These are just some of them the many tips for creating a fun play corner. And such a play corner is great for promoting independent play with toys.
How do you keep outdoor games safe?
According to the study “Outdoor play environments for infants and toddlers” by Wortham, S. (1989), playgrounds provide a unique opportunity for infants and toddlers to explore and play, while also providing a safe and secure environment for their early development .
To keep outdoor play safe, it is important to consider several aspects. First check the play area for potential hazards such as broken toys, trash or insect nests. Make sure children always wear protective clothing such as sun hats and sunglasses. Teach children safety rules and make sure they follow them.
There are different safety rules for playgrounds than for outdoor play at home. On playgrounds you have to deal with playground equipment, but always provide a safe surface, such as wood chips, tiles, mats or grass, to absorb shocks.
What safety measures should a playground have?
According to Hudson and Thompson's (2000) research, playground safety requires proper supervision, age-appropriate equipment, adequate surface coverings, and ongoing maintenance. This can be achieved through a comprehensive supervision plan and age-appropriate design.
Supervision is essential. Make sure children are always supervised while playing. Intervene if necessary to prevent accidents and choose age-appropriate equipment. Smaller children have difficulty climbing and need smaller play equipment. Larger play equipment is intended for older children.
Ensure sufficient surface covering. Soft surfaces such as rubber, wood chips, tiles or mats help cushion falls and prevent injuries. Grass is not a good choice because it does not absorb the shock well.
Check playground equipment for wear and replace if necessary. Anchor playground equipment deeply and securely to prevent falls.
Avoid openings and areas where children could become trapped. This is especially true for climbing frames.
How can you let your children play outside safely at home?
To allow children to play outside safely at home, you must take several aspects into account.
- Choose a safe play area. For example, keep the garden free of sharp objects and hidden hazards and limit access to dangerous areas such as swimming pools or busy roads. In addition, always stay nearby to supervise, especially with younger children.
- Even if you have playground equipment in the garden, you must ensure that it is installed securely and safely. Prevent fall and choking hazards by avoiding small openings and ropes.
- Protect from the sun, provide plenty of shade and encourage the wearing of protective clothing and sunscreen. Make sure children don't play outside for too long, especially during peak sun hours.
- Be aware of the weather: Avoid playing outside in bad weather and be extra careful in hot weather by taking regular breaks in the play games outside for hydration.
- Teach safety: Teach children about the importance of safety, such as wearing shoes outside and avoiding dangerous situations, and encourage safe play, such as not getting too close to the edge of playground equipment or pushing and pulling too hard.
How does a safe play environment stimulate learning?
A safe play environment stimulates learning by giving children the space to explore and experiment. It provides opportunities to develop new skills and practice existing ones, while minimizing risks. A good playing environment also promotes children's physical well-being, which is crucial for their overall development.
The feeling of safety supports children's cognitive learning. It allows them to feel comfortable trying new activities and engaging in social interactions. This promotes the development of critical thinking and collaboration, which is essential for their growth, and safe toys are an important part of safe learning.
What toys do you need for a safe learning environment?
The choice of toys is crucial for a safe play environment. Two aspects of safe toys are material selection and age appropriateness, but there are many more.
The material of toys helps prevent accidents. Sturdy toys, free from harmful substances such as uncoated lead and phthalates, are important. Choose toys that are labeled 'safe' to avoid exposure to these substances. To avoid injuries, avoid toys with sharp parts or that break easily.
Remember, these are just two of them many aspects when choosing safe toys.
Always something to do for the holidays or rainy day?
Play Choice now has the ultimate activity book collection, with over 60 pages of fun coloring pages and educational puzzles.
Joost Nusselder, the founder of Speelkeuze.nl is a content marketer, father and loves trying out new toys. As a child he came into contact with everything related to games when his mother started the Tinnen Soldaat in Ede. Now he and his team create helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with fun play ideas.