Tips for Providing a Safe Environment for Young Children

The most important developmental need of young children is security - the confidence that the adults in their lives will protect them and relieve their fears and anxieties.  Teaches have a profound responsibility to support children's sense of safety.  This becomes even more important after a disaster.

To provide a safe environment for young children who have experienced a disaster:

• Give physical comfort.
• Listen and respond with statements like:

I understand that remembering the flood is scary for you.  Do you want to talk more about it right now?

I can tell you miss your brother very much. Could we draw a picture of him or look at some pictures of him?

When children describe their experiences in the disaster or ask questions about the disaster, help them handle fear and anxiety by responding simply and honesty. 

Yes, the storm was very scary for all of us. I'm glad it's over now.

I was worried that my house was gone. The roof, which is the top of the house, did blow away but the walls were still there.

I am so sorry that your grandmother died. I know you must miss her very much. Does it help to think about happy times you had with her?

• Restore or create a familiar, predictable classroom routine.
• Give extra attention to children's needs during transitions.
• Provide quiet areas.
• Provide times for outdoor play.
• Avoid punitive time-outs.

For additional information, read Preparing for Disaster: What Every Early Childhood Director Needs to Know and After the Crisis: Using Storybooks to Help Children Cope.

Question 3 of 3:

Should I stop using a properly working drop side crib?

Answer:

No. The safest place for a child is in a fully functional, properly assembled crib that is not part of a recall that is in good condition as it provides the safest sleep environment for children. This is true for ALL cribs. Each year hundreds of deaths occur when children are placed to sleep in an environment that is not specifically designed for them. Many times more infants die each year when they are placed in unsafe sleep environments.

NEVER place infants to sleep on pillows, sofa cushions, adult beds, waterbeds, beanbags, or any other surface not specifically designed for infant sleep. NEVER place the crib near windows, draperies, blinds, or wall mounted decorative accessories with long cords.

When you assemble a crib to the manufacturer's instructions and use it properly, a crib provides the safest sleeping environment for baby.

About JPMA

The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association is a national trade organization of more than 250 companies in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. JPMA exists to advance the interests, growth, and well-being of North American prenatal to preschool product manufacturers, importers, and distributors marketing under their own brands to consumers. It does so through advocacy, public relations, information sharing, product performance certification, and business development assistance conducted with appreciation for the needs of parents, children, and retailers. Each year, JPMA sponsors Baby Safety Month in September. JPMA initiated Baby Safety Month to educate parents and caregivers on the importance of the safe use and selection of juvenile products. For more information, please visit www.jpma.org.

For additional information regarding product recalls, please visit www.cpsc.gov.

• Your outdoor play area should be considered your outdoor classroom. Children will spend hours playing outdoors developing physical creativity, problem-solving, and social skills.
• The first consideration for the outdoor play area is SAFETY. Conduct monthly safety inspections of all outdoor play areas.
• A well-planned outdoor area is not only a stimulating  and fun place to play; it is also an added value to your program.
• The location of your playground should be approved first by zoning. Consider the most visible location for the playground so that it is inviting to families.
• Regulations require specified square footage per child outdoors. Most states require separate play areas for different age groups.
• Outdoor areas must be contained within a fence; there may be specific fencing requirements in your community.

Quality outdoor play areas have separate areas for a variety of activities:

• Large, open, grassy areas for running and active games.
• Areas for sand and water play.
• Age-appropriate climbing structures.
• Bike paths separate from major foot traffic patterns; play structures for role play.
• Adequate storage space for outdoor play equipment.

Design features for safety and health of children should include:

• Proper drainage of your outdoor areas.
• Sturdy, child-safe fencing that meets construction requirements.
• Cushioned surfaces under climbing structures, slides, and swings to break falls. It is recommended that you take on the one-time investment and expense for a high-quality cushioning surface.
• Children need access to drinking water when outside.
• An outdoor bathroom is a great aid to the supervision of children.
• Consider short-term and long-term maintenance in your outdoor play design; include the cost of repairs and replacements in your budget.

PLAYGROUNDS - CHOOSING SAFE SURFACING

The surface under and around playground equipment can be a major factor in determining the injury-causing potential of a fall. It is obvious that a fall onto a shock-absorbing surface is less likely to cause a serious injury than a fall onto a hard surface. Because head impact injuries from a fall have the potential for life-threatening, the more shock-absorbing a surface can be, the more likelihood that the severity of the injury will be reduced. However, it should be recognized that injuries due to falls cannot be prevented no matter what playground surfacing material is used. (The paragraph above is taken from The Handbook for Public Playground Safety, distributed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.)

Surfacing Options:

• Playground Quality Wood Chip
• Cast-In Place/Pad Systems
• Tile Systems
• Pea Gravel
• Sand

DO NOT INSTALL ANY PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT OVER PAVED SURFACES SUCH AS CONCRETE OR ASPHALT.

The complete area, including the space under and around all playground equipment, must be covered with an impact-absorbing material. For guidelines and recommendations, consult the 1997 Handbook for Public Playground Safety published by:

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs

Washington, D.C. 20207

or for your convenience, call use for a copy of the current CPSC guidelines through our toll free number: 1-800-334-2014 or Email: Playground@Kaplanco.com