What essential outdoor safety tips should I follow in my home daycare to ensure a safe and engaging outdoor play area? “When thinking about home daycare, it is easy to believe that since it is a backyard home daycare that it is safe, right? Wrong. There are many hazards that unsuspecting children and caregivers can overlook. Here are a few nuts and bolts things to consider when trying to create a more safe environment for your little clients: The backyard should be closed off so that children don’t have access to streets, neighbors, and other hazards. Since most fencing is constructed of wood, it is essential to make sure that the wood is unable to splinter off into a child. Rest assured, the children will run into it at some point. One inexpensive and effective way to splinter-proof a fence is to use a plastic painter’s tarp. It can be easily purchased from any home hardware center or paint store. It can be clear or white and can even be fun, for if you opt for white,
the children can decorate it and draw pictures on it. So not only is it safe, but it creates a new, time-consuming activity! Just be sure to affix the plastic tarping with a strong staple gun or other secure way so that it doesn’t come down easily. It is also a good idea to cut 12-inch slits into the tarping so that if it does fall down, it is not an asphyxiation hazard. Cutting the slits will also help the tarp stay put in windy conditions. Lawn sprinkler heads. It is essential to be certain that if the outside play area is grass and irrigated automatically, the sprinkler heads are quite flush with the dirt to prevent a tripping hazard. If the play area is cement, please make sure that it is entirely level and free of any cracking. One fun tip is to use soft and spongy garage floor tile to cover up the cement. The tiles can be purchased online by simply searching for “soft spongy floor tile.” That way, not only is it a fun and inviting look for your customers, but it almost eliminates scrapes and falling injuries. There are a myriad of other hazards to be aware of,
SPOTLIGHT MAGAZINE ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • VOL 24 ISSUE 1 123
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