1. Early childhood programs keep children safe when their facilities, materials, and equipment are hazard-free and all staff use safety practices, such as active supervision. Prevention is often the best form of safety, and so taking the time to plan a hazard-free classroom environment can go a long way toward minimizing the chance of injuries. It is important to understand the impact of safety on healthy development. Describe the areas in an early childhood setting that must be safe for the well- being of children. (Page 395)
Foundations of a child’s well-being What proactive actions and responsive teaching strategies can be used to meet a child’s needs in each of the areas?
Physical safety- freedom from threat of harm
Emotional safety- freedom from fear and violence
Freedom to learn and thrive
• Basic Needs
The classroom as a refuge for children (Page 397)
2. Most child injuries are preventable. Unfortunately, injuries are the leading cause of death in children in Canada. The leading causes of unintentional injury vary by age and include drowning, poisoning, suffocation, fires, burns, falls, and motor vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian-related crashes. Most injuries are preventable by modifying the child’s environment (e.g., use of stair gates) and having parents engage in safety practices (e.g., keeping matches or lighters out of reach of children).
Effective injury prevention methods include the use of childproof caps on medications and household poisons, age-appropriate restraints in motor vehicles (i.e., car seats, booster seats, seat belts), bicycle helmets, and a four-sided fence with a locked gate around residential swimming pool.
a. What are unintentional injuries? (Page 398)
b. View Figure 13-1, what are the 10 leading causes of non-fatal injuries?
c. What is a risk factor? Describe a variety of risk factors.