Maintaining a Safe Environment
EEC has a number of licensing standards related to safety in a Family Child Care Home.
Most of these standard outline common safety precautions such as making dangerous
materials inaccessible to children, covering outlets, having a first aid kit, practicing
evacuation drills, gating stairs, windows, or heating elements, posting emergency numbers,
and maintaining a clean, hazard-free indoor space. Also, the outdoor space must be safe
and hazard free and there should be no access to a busy street, water, construction materials,
rusty or broken play materials, debris, glass, or peeling paint.
Most of these standard outline common safety precautions such as making dangerous
materials inaccessible to children, covering outlets, having a first aid kit, practicing
evacuation drills, gating stairs, windows, or heating elements, posting emergency numbers,
and maintaining a clean, hazard-free indoor space. Also, the outdoor space must be safe
and hazard free and there should be no access to a busy street, water, construction materials,
rusty or broken play materials, debris, glass, or peeling paint.
Lead Poisoning Prevention
All Family Child Care Educators are required by EEC to provide parents with information
regarding the risk of lead poisoning.
regarding the risk of lead poisoning.
- Lead poisoning is caused by swallowing or breathing lead. Lead is poison when it gets into
the body.
the body.
- Lead can stay in the body for a long time. Young children absorb lead more easily than adults.
The harm done by lead may never go away. Lead in the body can: hurt the brain, kidneys, and
nervous system; slow down growth and development; make it hard to learn; damage hearing
and speech; cause behavior problems.
The harm done by lead may never go away. Lead in the body can: hurt the brain, kidneys, and
nervous system; slow down growth and development; make it hard to learn; damage hearing
and speech; cause behavior problems.
- Most of the lead poisoning in Massachusetts comes from lead paint dust in older homes. Many
homes built before 1978 have lead paint on the inside and outside of the building.
homes built before 1978 have lead paint on the inside and outside of the building.
- When old paint peels and cracks, it creates lead paint chips and lead dust. Lead dust also comes
from opening and closing old windows.
from opening and closing old windows.
- Lead dust lands on the floor. Lead gets into children’s bodies when they put their hands and
toys in their mouths. Children can also breathe in lead dust. Children between the ages of 9 months
and 6 years are most at risk.
toys in their mouths. Children can also breathe in lead dust. Children between the ages of 9 months
and 6 years are most at risk.
- Important: Home repairs and renovations also create lead dust.
- Most children who have lead poisoning do not look or act sick. A lead test is the only way to know
if your child has lead poisoning. Ask your doctor to test your child for lead.
if your child has lead poisoning. Ask your doctor to test your child for lead.
- Some children may have: upset stomach, trouble eating or sleeping, headache, trouble paying attention.
If your child is between nine months to 3 years of age, you will need to provide
documentation to me that your child has been screened for lead poisoning.
Most children will be screened annually until either age three or four, depending on location.
documentation to me that your child has been screened for lead poisoning.
Most children will be screened annually until either age three or four, depending on location.
I am require to disclose to you if I am aware of any known sources of lead in my home. Information
regarding known sources of lead in my home are unknown. The home was built in 1973. The lower
level area that is used for Garrison Family Care was finished as a livable space in the 1980’s.
regarding known sources of lead in my home are unknown. The home was built in 1973. The lower
level area that is used for Garrison Family Care was finished as a livable space in the 1980’s.
For more information on lead poisoning you can visit http://www.mass.gov/dph/clppp or call the
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention program at 800-532-9571.
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention program at 800-532-9571.
Supervision
Supervision is critical to keeping children safe. I will appropriately supervise children in order to
ensure their health and safety at all times. I will use good judgment and consider several factors in
determining the appropriate level of supervision for children including age, developmental needs,
behavioral characteristics, the nature of activities and the space we are using.
ensure their health and safety at all times. I will use good judgment and consider several factors in
determining the appropriate level of supervision for children including age, developmental needs,
behavioral characteristics, the nature of activities and the space we are using.
Safe Sleep
Children have a regularly scheduled rest time after lunch. All children must be on their mats for the
first portion of rest time; children are not required to sleep. Rest time takes place in the play room.
Children have individual nap mats and they can bring sheet, blankets, and stuffed toys from home to
use during the time.
first portion of rest time; children are not required to sleep. Rest time takes place in the play room.
Children have individual nap mats and they can bring sheet, blankets, and stuffed toys from home to
use during the time.
Children who no longer nap will be able to use quiet toys, puzzles, and books after those who need
naps fall asleep. At no time will a child be forced to sleep or be denied sleep.
naps fall asleep. At no time will a child be forced to sleep or be denied sleep.
Supervision of children is equally important during times that a child is sleeping at the program,
particularly when that child is an infant. EEC has very specific regulations around safe sleep practices.
All infants are places on their backs to sleep, unless a child’s physician orders otherwise, such an order
must be given in writing.
particularly when that child is an infant. EEC has very specific regulations around safe sleep practices.
All infants are places on their backs to sleep, unless a child’s physician orders otherwise, such an order
must be given in writing.
I check on children at least every 15 minutes during naptime. If your child is less than six months old,
I will directly supervise them during naptime for the first six weeks they are in care. For more information
regarding Safe Sleep go to review the Family Child Care Policies section of www.eec.state.ma.us.
I will directly supervise them during naptime for the first six weeks they are in care. For more information
regarding Safe Sleep go to review the Family Child Care Policies section of www.eec.state.ma.us.
Child Guidance and Discipline
Redirection, direct instruction, or group discussion are methods used for child guidance in my center.
Children at this age are learning how to behave socially and need guidance from adults and time to
practice using those skills. Time will be built into the curriculum to discuss and practice specific skills,
such as turn taking or taking time to yourself when you are angry. I also allow for natural consequences,
like if you throw the ball over the fence you no longer have a ball to play with, and logical consequences,
like if you keep breaking the crayons then the crayons will be put away. Some children benefit from
doing a social story or making a picture about what happened, so in some cases doing a "Stop and Think"
sheet may be appropriate. I do not typically use "time out" as a teaching strategy and would discuss its
use, why it would be used, and how it would be used should the need arise. Child Guidance Plan falls in
line with regulations.
Children at this age are learning how to behave socially and need guidance from adults and time to
practice using those skills. Time will be built into the curriculum to discuss and practice specific skills,
such as turn taking or taking time to yourself when you are angry. I also allow for natural consequences,
like if you throw the ball over the fence you no longer have a ball to play with, and logical consequences,
like if you keep breaking the crayons then the crayons will be put away. Some children benefit from
doing a social story or making a picture about what happened, so in some cases doing a "Stop and Think"
sheet may be appropriate. I do not typically use "time out" as a teaching strategy and would discuss its
use, why it would be used, and how it would be used should the need arise. Child Guidance Plan falls in
line with regulations.
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