Establishing a Safe and Healthy Learning Environment
Competency Goal 1
To establish a safe, healthy, learning environment
Functional Area 1: Safe
One of my goals in the functional area of safe is to prevent or reduce injuries on the playground while children are in my care. This is an important goal for the preschool age group because young children are unaware of the hazards in the outdoor environment and of behaviors that could cause them harm. I can accomplish this by being aware of the areas that are “hazardous” and making sure that I am supervising all children accurately. I always make sure children are where I can have visual and auditory contact on them. I routinely check to make sure all the outside equipment is free from hazardous materials, i.e. free of deterioration, splinters, rust, openings that are 3.5”-9”, and checking that slides don’t have open areas where string could cause strangulation.
Functional Area 2: Healthy
One of my goals in the functional area of healthy is to model the importance of proper hygiene. I feel this is an important goal for preschool children because young children do not understand that good hygiene is the best way to avoid spreading infections and diseases. One of the ways I do this is by washing my hands before helping the children open their lunches, after coming in from outside, and any other time that my hands may be dirty. I help the children to properly wash their hands by incorporating hand washing techniques into my lesson planning (I have songs that they can sing, so that they are washing their hands for at least 20 seconds). I also make sure that children are using their own bedding. I sanitize and wash bedding weekly. I disinfect toys that may have been coughed and sneezed on immediately and wash or sanitize the rest of the toys biweekly. I request that parents bring healthy foods for their children’s lunches as well as removing allergens such as peanut butter. I sit with the children and model good eating habits.
Functional Area 3: Learning Environments
One
To establish a safe, healthy, learning environment
Functional Area 1: Safe
One of my goals in the functional area of safe is to prevent or reduce injuries on the playground while children are in my care. This is an important goal for the preschool age group because young children are unaware of the hazards in the outdoor environment and of behaviors that could cause them harm. I can accomplish this by being aware of the areas that are “hazardous” and making sure that I am supervising all children accurately. I always make sure children are where I can have visual and auditory contact on them. I routinely check to make sure all the outside equipment is free from hazardous materials, i.e. free of deterioration, splinters, rust, openings that are 3.5”-9”, and checking that slides don’t have open areas where string could cause strangulation.
Functional Area 2: Healthy
One of my goals in the functional area of healthy is to model the importance of proper hygiene. I feel this is an important goal for preschool children because young children do not understand that good hygiene is the best way to avoid spreading infections and diseases. One of the ways I do this is by washing my hands before helping the children open their lunches, after coming in from outside, and any other time that my hands may be dirty. I help the children to properly wash their hands by incorporating hand washing techniques into my lesson planning (I have songs that they can sing, so that they are washing their hands for at least 20 seconds). I also make sure that children are using their own bedding. I sanitize and wash bedding weekly. I disinfect toys that may have been coughed and sneezed on immediately and wash or sanitize the rest of the toys biweekly. I request that parents bring healthy foods for their children’s lunches as well as removing allergens such as peanut butter. I sit with the children and model good eating habits.
Functional Area 3: Learning Environments
One