Safety Practices and Policies

Safety Practices and Policies
I currently do not work with children, but I have 2 young children of my own. I am using my youngest for my examples since he is the one more prone to accidents. My son is 15 months old and very string willed and mischievous. He gives me a run for my money on safety and is a good reason why there should be safety rules.
First off, children at this age like to explore their surroundings. They like to open doors and see what is in them. They like to look at pretty colors and shiny stuff. One major danger from this is hazardous materials. Every facility has cleaning supplies that have to be stored somewhere. Children of this age group do not know and understand that these items are bad for them. To them it is a liquid just like their juice that they drink. To them the spray bottles are a new activity that they have not done yet. They could drink some cleaner that could seriously injure them or even kill them. All cleaning and hazardous materials should either be in high places where children can not reach them, or in locked cabinets. There are many different types of child safety locks to keep children out of cabinets and drawers.
One way to partner with parents on this would be to show them different types of locks and how they work. A great way to fix this is to use green cleaning supplies. Most are safe for children and help the environment. Make sure every parent knows how to get into contact with poison control if needed. When in doubt, call them.
The next big culprit for accidents at this age is electrical devices. They are so neat. They have little holes that small stuff fits in just right. Outlets are there to provide electrical currents to devices that we need to work. If a child puts the wrong thing in an outlet it could cause serious problems. There should be covers in all unused outlets. They should be difficult to remove plastic covers. A good way to partner with parents on this is to have a monthly checklist that they check their home every month to make sure every outlet is covered. If they are actively looking for this it will become a normal thing for them to be covered. Give them something to fill out.
Drowning at this age is very common also. Children are fascinated with water. It is cool and feels good. The texture amazes them. Bathrooms are very hazardous to young children. They could drown in the toilet, sink or bathtub. There should not be easy access to a bathroom for a child that does not use it. My 15 month old is fascinated with the toilet for some reason. Not only does the toilet lid have to be shut, but so does the bathroom door. He knows how to open the lid. Just like your pets, he will go play in the water if he can get in there quick enough. Not only is that unsanitary, but children this age carry more weight in their head then the rest of their body. If they lean down far enough, they could fall in and not be able to get out.
Choking is another big problem with children this age. They love to put things in their mouth. If a 1 year old gets a hold of a marble and puts it in his mouth he could choke on it. There should not be anything smaller than 2 inches around in reach of young children. A good thing to show parents is to have them take a toilet paper or paper towel roll. If the item they are questioning fits in that tube, it is too small for the child to play with.
Falls are a problem with all age groups, but this age group is just learning to walk and explore. Children of this age should never be left sitting on counters, beds or tables alone. They do not know how to get down. They also do not know how to catch themselves if they fall. Also, any open doorways that could lead to stairs should be closed off with a gate of some kind. The new walkers are very unstable. They fall on their own very easily and do not need added risk factors around them.
I think a great practice for partnering with parents on these things at home is to create a monthly checklist for them. Go over it with them once or twice in the classroom to show them what to look for. Then have them take it home and do an inspection of their homes every month. They may not see things that are hazardous until it is shown to them first. Their tiny independent person will show it to them also. There should be a place for the parents to add new things that are coming up as the child is growing and becoming more aware of their environments.

Works Cited
Robertson, C. (2010). Safety, Nutrition, and Health in Early Childhood Education. Belmont: Wadsworth.

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