Classroom Safety Tips

Safety Tips for Children in Early Childhood Education from ChildCare Education Institute

Anywhere you go, the safety of our toddlers and preschool children is a topic of concern. We need to become vigilante when it comes to the safety of our kids. A recent study shows more than 794 children were killed by vehicles in 2017. Unfortunately, many of these deaths took place at daycare facilities under the supervision of early childhood educators. Back up cameras are not enough. All adults need to know these safety tips for children from ChildCare Education Institute.

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According to the CDC, Unintentional injuries—such as those caused by burns, drowning, falls, poisoning and road traffic—are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children in the United States. Each year, among those 0 to 19 years of age, more than 12,000 people die from unintentional injuries and more than 9.2 million are treated in emergency departments for nonfatal injuries. Read the CDC report on Childhood Injuries.

Safety Prevention in the Classroom

Safety in the classroom doesn’t just happen, teachers must be prepared and plan for it. What can we do to prevent these senseless deaths and keep our youngest family members safe? When child caregivers and other adults equip themselves with the tools needed to protect children in their care, they can reduce unnecessary injuries and accidents. Safety education is key.

ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI,) the industry leader for online professional development, offers over 55+ safety courses for ECE teachers. These high-quality and research-based courses provide early childhood educators with operating procedures and best practices for keeping children safe on and off school grounds.  I highly recommend all ECE professionals explore CCEI’s vast online course catalog and enroll to take their safety courses today!

CCEI has over 35+ certificate programs offered in both English and Spanish! They’ve graduated over 15,000 early childhood professionals from its CDA and other certificate programs -- with over 5 million online course hours completed by students. CCEI’s web-based coursework is available 24/7/365. 

Here’s a list of some of the 55+ safety courses offered online with CCEI:

• CCEI112A: Child Abuse: Signs of Abuse and Reporting Requirements for Early Childhood Professionals identifies and defines the major categories of child abuse, explains the responsibilities of mandated reporters, lists methods of reporting, and emphasizes the importance of visual checks.

• HLTH110: Protecting Infants: Reducing the Risk of SIDS and Shaken Baby Syndrome  introduces the risk reducing and preventative strategies designed to keep infants safe.

• CCEI110A: Indoor Safety in the Early Childhood Setting introduces early childhood professionals to indoor safety standards in an early childhood setting. Topics covered include toy safety, poison control, the development of appropriate play space, controlling high traffic areas in the center, and other safety standards.

• HLTH104: Basic Health and Hygiene Practices for the Early Childhood Setting  provides basic information everyone should know about preventing the spread of infectious diseases in the child care setting.

• CCEI119: Food Allergies in the Early Care Setting provides an overview of food allergies and basic food allergy safety principles to employ in the early care setting.

ChildCare Education Institute offers professionals 150+ online child care training courses (in English and Spanish) to meet licensing, recognition program and Head Start requirements. It’s the perfect online training for busy early childhood teachers. Read our review on CCEI here: Continuing Online Study for Early Childhood Education. I highly recommend you try these safety courses today from CCEI, so you can create a safe environment for your students. The courses are easy to digest and easy to apply to your daily schedules.

Maintaining a healthy and safe environment for children in an early childhood environment is essential. Parents count on caregivers to keep their children safe, healthy, and happy when they're in the classroom. Early childhood professionals need to stay up-to-date on the changes to licensing regulations, best practices, and health and safety standards set forth by governing agencies. Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs has been updated. Learn more about the recent safety standard updates.

Have you considered any of these safety tips for the childcare environment?

• Cots/cribs are placed 3 ft apart or have barrier and assigned to a specific child or cleaned and sanitized after each use
• Furniture and equipment is in good repair (check for broken toys, accessories, wrinkled/disrepair rugs/carpet.)
• All chemicals are locked/out of reach of children. 
• All entrances/exits are kept clear of clutter, snow, ice, etc. 
• Tables and chairs are not stacked while children are present.

Your state likely has many resources available to help guide the safety practices and policies in your classrooms. Download this free Childcare Health and Safety Checklist PDF from Indiana.gov.

CCEI offers many continuing ed courses for ECE staff and caregivers. I encourage anyone working with children to take courses with CCEI. That’s right, anyone! If you’re a homeschooler, you’ll find many of the courses beneficial to your homeschooling learning environment as well.

ECE teachers in a brick and mortar environment will find that CCEI is convenient and easy to navigate, most classes take about an hour. Preschool teachers and daycare providers alike, will definitely want to take a look at the safety courses and maintain a weekly safety checklist for their program environments. 

Looking for fun ideas and activities for preschoolers? Check out our Preschool Scavenger Hunt Group on Pinterest.

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10 Toy Safety Tips for Babies and Toddlers

10 Game and Toy Safety Tips for Caregivers

Toys! Mommy, can I have that toy? Can I, can I, can I? Think before you give in and buy it. All toys are not created equal. Toy safety isn't just for infants and toddlers. Children with special needs are prone to accidents with toys too. Even young, elementary-age children can choke on small toy parts or game pieces. Until about age six, kids have a tendency to put everything in their mouths. So, make yourself familiar with Game and Toy Safety Tips. Enjoy!

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Toy Safety Tips and Toy Recall Information:

1. Toy shopping shouldn't be done on sight alone. When shopping for best infant toys, consider the child's age and ability. Don't waste money on flashy toys the child may not be capable of playing with.
2. Toy labels give safety warnings and recommended ages for safe toy play.
3. Children, especially those under the age of three, love to put toys and small objects in their mouth. Small game pieces, broken toys, or loose parts are choking hazards. If something can fit inside the center of a cardboard toilet roll or paper towel tube, consider it a choking hazard.
4. When putting a toy or game together, always read the instructions. Items put together incorrectly can fall apart and become a choking hazard.
5. Plastic bags and packaging are dangerous. They can be stuck in the mouth or placed over the nose. It isn't just bags that cause suffocation. A small toddler or infant can suffocate on a piece of plastic stuck over their mouth and nose.
6. Children, especially infants and babies, must be supervised at all times during toy and game play. Never leave the room and leave a small child unattended.
7. Don't mix baby toys with those of older children. Small blocks are especially attractive to younger children. Keep older children's toys put away in containers. Teach older siblings to put their toys away.
8. When toys break, discard them! Don't keep old toys around. Check toys often for broken or loose parts and sharp edges.
9. Toy storage is essential. Toys on the stairs can cause family members to trip and fall. Toys left out on the floor can be swallowed by a toddler. Keep toys for babies stored separately from toys for older children.
10. Toys with wheels and motors can pinch fingers or entangle hair. Watch children closely with these types of toys. Even cars designed for toddlers can present a problem.

For more game and toy safety tips visit safekids.org.

For game and toy recalls visit www.cpsc.gov.

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Where Is Baby's Belly Button? A Lift-the-Flap Book

Classroom Safety Tips for Early Childhood Educators

Safety Smart Science with Bill Nye the Science Guy: Fire Classroom Edition

Best Infant Toys

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By: admin

Kitchen Safety Tips for Kids

How to Keep the Kitchen a Safe Place 

Thinking of doing a kitchen remodel? As parents, we need to remember to always put safety first. This is especially true when you have toddlers. Little ones often get into mischief, and you want to know that they’re out of harm's way. To toddlers and preschoolers, the kitchen is a magical place. When they wander into the kitchen, they also wander into an area that has several safety hazards. So, how do you keep the kitchen a safe place for your kids?

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.

Make your kitchen kid-friendly by paying attention to the small details. Ensure things like
fires, injuries from sharp objects, and slip and falls are avoided whenever possible. Below are some ways that you can help you  learn how to keep the kitchen a safe place for toddlers and adults alike!

Kitchen Safety Tips 

Invest in Good Lighting 

As simple as it may sound, having good lighting is a great way to make your kitchen safe for kids. When you have good kitchen lighting, you can see what you’re doing and reduce the risk of accidents. The fun thing about choosing lighting for your kitchen is that there are so many different types to choose. Good kitchen lighting should complement your interior design as well, as, give you enough light to use your space in all the ways that you want. We use our kitchen as our homeschool room, so lighting is a key factor. To modernize your kitchen for better safety, under cabinet lights often serve double duty as spotlight lighting for preparing food on the worktops, and as softer lighting in the evening when the main lighting is switched off. 

Keep a Fire Extinguisher Nearby 

Fires are a common occurrence, and because there are so many hazards in the kitchen, everyone should have a fire extinguisher in their kitchen. It has been said that over 150,000 fires take place in the kitchen every year, so you want to be prepared in case it ever happens to you. Place the kitchen fire extinguisher near your stove so that it’s easy to grab quickly. You’ll also need to learn how to use it, There are many online resources that teach how to use a fire extinguisher or contact your local fire station . Lastly, note that fire extinguishers have inspection dates that expire, so ensure that you’re up-to-date.  

Store Objects in Cabinets 

If you have sharp objects or ones that could harm your toddlers, you should put them into cabinets. This will ensure that they’re out of reach and minimize the risk of accidents. If you don’t have cabinets, or the kitchen cabinets that you have aren’t secure, you should install new ones. Cabinet Doors ‘N’ More sell quality cabinet doors; their replacement cabinet doors are made from solid woods, such as hard maple, paint-grade hard maple, red oak, and cherry. 

Slip-Resistant Flooring 

Slips and falls happen all of the time, but there are several ways to help prevent these kitchen accidents. The kitchen is especially prone to accidents like water spillage and cooking grease. So, you should get slip-resistant flooring installed in the kitchen. Some examples are wood with a flat finish, textured vinyl, or laminate flooring. Kitchen laminate happens to be somewhat easy to install and it's very durable. 

First Aid Kit 

In the event that an accident does happen, you should have access to a quality first-aid kit. Keep it in a cupboard, on a shelf ,or in your kitchen storage pantry for easy access. Some items you should have in your kitchen first aid kit include: bandages for cuts, dressings, and burn ointment. 


Whether you're giving your kitchen a quick makeover to make it safer for the kids, or a full kitchen remodel, we hope you find these kitchen safety tips for kids, especially toddlers, helpful. For more family activities and safety tips, please follow us on Pinterest.

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Firework Safety Tips for Kids

Don't let kids play with fireworks? Here are Safety Tips for a Happy Fourth of July Celebration

Kids can Play with Sparklers if you Follow these Safety Tips for the Fourth of July.

I don't like fireworks, especially sparklers. They are marketed toward young children, but can be more dangerous than other varieties of fireworks, and they look like mini magic wands. Children should never play with ANY fireworks without adult supervision... a real adult, a sober adult, a safe adult. Hope you know someone :) If you want to be safe try these edible firework kabobs. Enjoy! 

When is Independence Day in America? 

Independence Day is always celebrated on July 4th, thus the more common name, "The Fourth of July"!

Never point a sparkler at anyone, even if you think it is a dud.

Always hold your sparkler at arm's length and off to your side.

Party poppers, Snappers, and Snakes are good fireworks for children
(if there is such a thing). Beware the Party Popper pointed at your face.
Did you know there is gunpowder in there?
Shoot your popper straight in the air high above your head.

Don't pretend a sparkler is a magic wand (get a stick for that) and never hold your sparkler over your head. Do you want flaming hair? Yeah, no way! Holding your sparkler to your side is the safest, but if you hold it straight in front of you, always extend it at arm's length.

Firework Safety Tips for Kids

People all over the world love to celebrate special occasions with fireworks. Americans have been celebrating the Fourth of July with fireworks since our country was set in motion. It is important to know and obey your city and state firework laws.

• Always use common sense. Read the labels on the box and follow the usage directions. Make sure you know what to expect from your firework. Remember some fireworks take longer to ignite, so leave a "dud" set before running to reignite it. 

• There are no "safe" fireworks! All fireworks should be lit by adults. If you must use fireworks that are marketed to children, such as, snakes, sparklers, and poppers, do so with close, responsible, adult supervision. Children should not handle or play with fireworks. Children should NEVER light fireworks.

• A responsible adult is an adult not under the influence of alcoholic beverages or recreational drugs.

• All fireworks should be lit on a flat, level, hard surface, preferably concrete. Lighting a firework in the grass can cause a the firework to tip over and shoot in an unexpected direction. It can also start a fire. If you must light fireworks in your yard, always use a flat wooden board as your launching platform.

• Keep a good distance between you and the firework. Never use fireworks indoors (duh!). Use fireworks outdoors in an open area away from vehicles, animals, and buildings. Also, keep away from dry grass or anything that could catch fire. Children and other spectators should stay away at least 25-40' for fountains and even farther for flying, spinner-type fireworks. Remember, the wind can change the direction of the sparks and flying debris.

• Never hold a lit firework in your hand! Never look in or stick anything inside a firework that doesn't go off. Don't stand over a firework... you know this - just use common sense. To be safe, you should light fireworks with a punk stick or a hand butane lighter stick (not a pocket lighter). NEVER try to ignite that dud! Wait several minutes and douse it in water. It is better to waste a good firework than to lose an eye!!! Keep a bucket of water nearby in case of emergencies.

• Always handle fireworks with care. Never stick them in your pocket. Never, ever aim them at someone else (even if you think the firework is extinguished). Keep your animals safe. Remember animals may walk too near the firework, they may become frightened, and they may run away from home. It is best to keep animals inside during holiday fireworks displays.

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Corduroy's Fourth of July

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How to Make Your Home Safe for Children

 Safety First : Safe Home Tips

Every year, thousands of children around the world are injured in home accidents. Most are minor, while some are more serious and result in death. You may believe that your home is safe, but there are many aspects that you may not have even thought about which could be putting your child in danger. Even if you believe that you have done a good job of child-proofing your home, there is a high chance that you may have missed even the most obvious hazards. Rest assured, this article will steer you in the right direction on how to make your home safe and child-friendly.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Living Room

The living room is one room of the home that is greatly overlooked when it comes to child-safety, however, there are things to consider which will make it a safer environment.

1. Fire hazards need to be considered for keeping your child safe in the home. Ensure that matchboxes placed next to candles are out of reach. It is extremely easy for a youngster to light a fire with matches simply through intuition, even if their motor skills have not been well developed.

2. The TV is one of the most common fixtures that toddlers climb in the living room. The additional weight may cause the TV to tip and cause injury. Therefore, securing the TV and the stand to the wall is advised.

3. While photo frames can add visual appeal to your décor, but they can be a major hazard. The sharp corners can cause injuries, and if the frame is dropped, the glass may fragment and cause deep cuts. It's a good idea to place frames on high shelving or hooked on the wall, rather than free-standing on lower surfaces.

Kitchen

Obviously, the kitchen is potentially the most dangerous room in the home for small children, therefore, many things need to be taken into consideration to ensure their safety. Here are some tips to bear in mind.

• Your little one may have an inquisitive nature to go exploring for objects and utensils which are dangerous objects and should be kept out of reach. As a precaution, ensure that all sharp kitchen utensils are stored in above-the-counter cupboards.

• Small appliances are also in easy reach when stored on countertops and can be easily tipped over and brought to the ground. Even if appliances are placed at the rear of the counter, loose wires can be tugged. Therefore, the wiring should be tied up and out of sight.

Garden

Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the dangers that the standard garden poses for small children, but this is a part of the home that should be a cause of concern.

Installing garden fencing or screenings is the highest priority for keeping your children safe in the back garden, especially if your property backs onto the main road. This will ensure they aren’t vulnerable to escaping. There are many different types of screenings to keep your property secure including hedging and glass screening from arbourlandscapesolutions.co.uk. 

Fishponds are another major hazard and are one of the most common causes of drowning in small children, while dangerous plants have even been known to cause injury, and in serious cases, death. 

Amazing Crafty Artist: Meet Debra Davis and her Handmade Gemstone Necklaces. Did you know gemstones have meanings?

Handmade Gemstone Necklaces and Safety Pin Lapel Pins: What does it mean?

Each week, we feature an amazing crafty artist or blogger. This week, I'd like to introduce you to Debra Davis. Debra is a local artisan from my home state of Indiana. She's been handcrafting beaded necklaces, lapel pins, and other jewelry for fifteen years. If you live near Michigan City, you can contact her to design something special just for you. 219-879-1429 Did you know gemstones have special meanings?

Safety Pin Lapel Pins with precious gems.

Handmade Beaded Necklace with Real Gemstones.

Gemstone Meanings

Amethyst:  Aids in calming the mind and obtaining wisdom. It is said to ease obsessive compulsive behavior.

Aquamarine: Gives courage and aids in mental clarity.

Emerald:  Aids in fertility, gives psychic powers, believed to lift insomnia and depression.

Jade:  Serenity and prosperity.

Garnet:  Passion and devotion. Good Luck in business ventures.

Sapphire:  Peace and happiness. May help in predicting the future.

Beautiful turquoise and cobalt gemstone handmade bracelet.

If you are looking for a unique, thoughtful gift for a special occasion, Debra's handmade jewelry is a perfect choice for a one-of-a-kind original. Most necklaces are priced at $14.99! Although she's been crafting and selling for years, she's only recently introduced her work to the online community. She'd be tickled if you popped over to take a look.

Handmade Macrame Bracelets.

Debra handcrafts every jewelry item, so you'll be sure you've 

got a one-of-a-kind. 


Each piece is crafted with love in honor of her late son, Jasyn. 

I especially like the macrame bracelets.  

What's your favorite piece?

You might also like Fair Trade Jewelry.

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Summer Camp at Home Themes, Schedules, and Tips

Themes and Activities for Summer Camp at Home

Want to give kids the experience of a great summer camp? Whether you do summer camp for your neighborhood, for a church youth group, or your local community, these summer camp at home themes, schedules, and tips will help you create the best, most fun summer camp for kids from six to sixteen! 

Post contains affiliate links.

Work in a retirement village or nursing home? Activity directors can adapt the activities for any age group. The objective is fun! Our website is full of fun, free camp activities, circle time activities, and group games. If you want everything at your fingertips (or on your clipboard) grab a copy of any of the books in our companion book series. These books are designed to help you organize and create an amazing youth group program or a simple, summer camp at home. 

Each books stands alone or get all 3 books for an organized summer camp, after-school program, or extra activities for vacation bible school. 

Our latest book, "Summer Camp at Home Handbook" has a total of five weeks of camp themes and activities. Each week includes: songs to sing, science experiments, group games, art activities, and fun themed snacks. It also includes a welcome pledge, icebreaker game, filler activities, planning calendars, printable today's birthday poster, activity schedule, daily menu poster, registration forms with allergy and photo permission features, and sample letters and forms to create a professional, organized camp program. If you want to do a full-on community summer camp, the only thing you'll need to add is insurance. Some small programs forego insurance for waivers and good luck. It's a good idea to get a short-term summer insurance policy if you plan to include your neighborhood or others outside of your close circle of friends and family.

Do you need a license to operate summer camp? That depends on your city and state. Check with your local government agencies, especially the board of health. Many churches (depending on state laws) are exempt and do not require visits from board of health or other agencies. Often, if the campers are participating in the prep of food it falls under different rules than if you are providing snacks. This is why the Summer Camp at Home Handbook includes theme snack activities and edible art. An easy way to avoid any trouble is to only provide prepackaged snacks and beverages (stay away from milk.) At the least, always have parents sign waivers, waivers, waivers. They won't completely protect you if someone decides to sue, but they do give everyone a heads up and let everyone know you are thinking ahead. Always have parents sign field trip waivers (you can make one for the entirety of camp and list out all pre-planned activities.) Also, be sure you have records of food allergies, immunizations, and authorized pick up persons. Finally, be aware of your state's childcare laws which vary based on the age of children in your care. To play it safe (when doing summer camp at home,) don't have more than five children that are not related to you in each camp session and always have another adult or camp counselor 18+ at your side.

Another thing to consider is first aid and safety training. Staff should be trained to recognize child predators in all childcare, summer camp, youth group, and school settings. In today's world, you can never be too safe or too prepared. That being said, if you are simply doing summer camp at home for your family, close friends, or homeschool group, not all of these steps may be required. However, it's better to be safe than sorry. Make sure you run background checks on anyone that will be regularly helping with your program. That includes your parents, aunts, and older children! This is a safety precaution designed to protect you in case something comes up. In your letter to parents, mention that all adults working with children have undergone a background check. Your local government probably has a background check option on their website.

A big safety consideration is water. Children may find pools and nearby bodies of water enticing. Always, always, keep count of the children in your immediate care. A good rule of thumb is to count kids every 20 minutes. If you are on a field trip or involved in a hectic group game, count them every 15 minutes. If you plan to include swimming in your camp activities or have a pool in your backyard, be aware that special precautions are needed and insurance rates will be higher.

Are you ready to get started hosting your own summer camp at home? Great! You'll want to start with our book, Summer Camp Handbook. This book is full of everything you need for five weeks of awesome summer camp.

Summer Camp Weekly Themes:

• It's all Rainbows: Rainbow Trails Song, Rainbow Snacks, Leprechaun Rainbow Skit, Rainbow Science Activities (Color and Prisms), and Get Moving Games.

• Silly Spaghetti: On Top of Spaghetti Song, Crunchy Spaghetti Recipe, Spaghetti Strength Science, Spaghetti Relays, and lots more.

• Eat Worms: Herman the Worm Song, Worm Theme Snacks, Snakes vs. Worms Game, How to Build a Worm Farm, Slurpin' for Worms, and lots more Worm Theme Games and Activities.

• Do Monkey Around: The Monkey Song, Banana Snacks, Banana Experiments, and Get Moving Games for Monkeys.

• Sharks vs Chickens: Baby Shark Song, Chicken Feed Snack, Egg Science Experiments, Shark and Chicken Hats, and lots of Games to Play as Sharks and Chickens.

With a blank, printable monthly calendar included in each weekly camp theme chapter and extra filler activities in case of a time emergency, the Summer Camp at Home Handbook is an essential tool whether it's your very first summer camp program or you are a seasoned camp director. Don't wait any longer, get on your way to the best summer camp ever today!

Our companion books are also available on Amazon in 8 x 10 paperback book format. These books give you extra credit as a camp director or activities director. Get organized with our 365 Planner. This handbook includes printable planning calendars, daily journal space with shareable quote of the day for note taking and planning, printable lesson/activity planning sheets, birthday logs, printable today's birthday poster, menu and activity schedules, and more. 

The 365 Activity Planner Journal, is a great companion handbook to Summer Camp at Home. It's also a great classroom resource planning tool for teachers. Whether you make copies of the printables to reuse again and again, or cuddle up on the sofa with the book to journal your activities, this handbook will help keep all of your thoughts and ideas organized with the added benefit of motivational quotes to keep you going strong. Get your 365 Activity Planner Journal now by clicking on the image.

And, if you are looking for fun games to play in a circle setting check out our Circle Time Handbook. This book includes 39 of the best ever games kids love. Tried and true, we played all of these games in our camp and after-school programs. This book is ideal for teachers who need to fill in some transitional time, afterschoolers who want to have a daily group rap sessions, preschool programs who realize the importance of circle time group activities, and summer camp programs who need filler material for rest breaks and other down time.

Ready, Get Set, Go! You can get all 3 books for under $40 on Amazon. 

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Caregivers and Educators, check out Lora's Recommendations on Amazon 

and Follow us on Instagram for more fun ideas for children.

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