Week 9

Physical environments
Health, Safety and Playgrounds
Nutrition
 Agenda

• Assignment #2
• Playgrounds
• Playground Checks
• COVID-19 guidelines for Playgrounds
• Seasonal considerations
• Homework
 Assignment #2:

Have you signed into a group yet?

Any Questions?
Video on playgrounds

ECE Connection Video: Playground

Safety Back To Basics
Protective Playground
Surfaces
• The most serious injuries in ECLC
programs occur on playgrounds.

• Two factors have a major influence

on the severity of injuries:
• Quality of protective surfacing
material
• Height from which the child falls

7-5
 The ground space under
and around each piece of
equipment that helps to
cushion a child’s fall.
• Protects children using
equipment
Encroachment Area • Protects those walking by
who could get hit by a
person coming off the
equipment (e.g., slides,
climber)
• Spacing:
o 1.8 m (6 ft) around stationary pieces
o 1.8 m (6 ft) between pieces

7-6
 Protective Surfacing Materials
Cover the entire encroachment area.

• Reduces severity of injuries upon landing

• CSA standards specify types and depth of materials to
be used, including:

Pea Gravel Sand

Shredded tire crumbs
Protective Surfacing Materials cont.
• CSA standards specify types and depth of materials to
be used, including:

Tiles

Engineered Wood Fibre

Wood Mulch
Pour-in-place
Entanglement can cause
strangulation!
Check for the following:
• Loose clothing, hoods, and scarves
• Cords or drawstrings on hoods,
hats, and jackets
• Mitten cords/other items around
necks
• Ropes and skipping ropes tied to
slides and other playground
equipment

7-9
Item
Sample Playground Check Date Notes
Time: (note any issues)
Area is free of litter and sharp objects

First Aid kit is taken outside and is fully

stocked
There are no stagnant pockets of water

Shady areas are provided

Protective surfaces in fall zones are free of

objects and materials
Sand play areas are raked and free of
debris; water play areas are clean
Equipment, riding toys, furnishings are free
of sharp edges, protrusions, splinters,
cracks and are in good working order
No parts of equipment are missing

Walkways and pathways are free of

sand/water/ice/wet leaves/weeds etc.
Slides and climbers are checked for gaps,
rough edges and other objects (e.g. ropes)
All moving parts function smoothly and are
well lubricated (Monthly)
All fencing and gate hardware is secured,
free of holes, sharp edges and rust
Signature Tanisha Smart
10
 Check it out!
City of Toronto: Playground Safety

• Read this page and open the links.

• Let’s head back to the section: create safer spaces for children

1. What does it say about soft surfacing for children?

2. What things do we check the surfaces of things for?
Let’s Talk About it…
Situation:
You go out to the sandbox. You notice raccoon poop in the sand.
What do you do?

CTV News Article on Children's Sandboxes

Being Outdoors Safely:
Winter & Summer
Summer Safety
• Do you know:
• What time of day you should avoid or limit outdoor play?
• When children and staff are outside, what are things you need to
have?
• What are points to keep in mind around the use of insect
repellant?
• When do you apply sunscreen?

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 7-14

 UV and the
Humidex

(Reproduced, with the permission of the publisher,

from World Health Organization, “Ultraviolet
radiation and health,” Ultraviolet radiation and the
INTERSUN Programme,
http://www.who.int/uv/uv_and_health/en/)

7-15
Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd.
UV Index

• Children are more sensitive to UV exposure than adults

because:
• the outer layer of their skin is thinner
• the younger the child, the more skin they have, relative to the
body mass of an adult
• they spend more time outdoors, especially in the summer
• this damage in childhood is a risk for later skin cancer

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 7-16

 7-17
Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd.
Using Sunscreen Products
• At least SPF15
• Apply before going outside
• Reapply 20 minutes after getting outside and after being in the
water
• Use lotions recommended for children and water-resistant when
playing in water
• Include areas behind the ears, neck, bottom of sleeves, and right
below the shorts line
• Supervise application by preschoolers
• Do not apply to infants under 6 months
Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 7-18
Additional Sun
Protection
• Limit or avoid time outside during
peak hours, especially in the summer.

• If outdoors during peak hours, ensure

shade, fluids, wide-brimmed hats.
• Ensure that infants are shaded
from the sun at all times.
• Be a good role model re: sun
safety.

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 7-19

Insect Control

• Eliminate places for insects to breed.

• Keep outdoor garbage containers far from play areas.
• Ensure standing water areas dry up at least every other day.
• Maintain the length of grass.
• Ensure window screens fit properly.

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 7-20

Selecting and Using Repellents
• Avoid using repellents, when possible.
• Ask parents to provide clothing options.
• Select products intended for children.
• Choose lotions rather than sprays, and ones that
aren’t combined with sunscreen.
• Follow the product’s instructions.
• Apply sparingly on exposed skin and wash off once
back inside.

Chemical repellents are poisonous and must be kept out of children’s reach.

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 7-21

Q: If used, insect repellents with DEET:
1. Must not be used for infants under
6 months old
2. Should be at a concentration of 30% or less for children 6–24
months
3. Should be at a concentration of 10% or more for children
between 2 and 12 years

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 7-22

A: If used, insect repellents with DEET:

1. Must not be used for infants under 6 months old

2. Should be at a concentration of 30% or less for children 6–24
months
3. Should be at a concentration of 10% or more for children
between 2 and 12 years

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 7-23

 Dressing for Winter

Appropriate Dress for the weather:

• Makes winter activities more enjoyable and
safe
• Includes a warm hat to retain body heat, and
strategies to ensure that extremities keep
warm (fingers, toes, ears, etc.) due to their
higher risk of frostbite
• Adults must be role models

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 7-24

Winter Activities
Such as tobogganing and skating can be enjoyable
and promote love of outdoor physical activity … but
you need to consider:

• Is this activity appropriate for the developmental

abilities of the group?
• Is the location designed for young children to use?
• Potential dangers: Can they be eliminated?
• Safety equipment: Is it available for each child and
adequate?
• Are an optimal number of adults available
to supervise?

Copyright © 2019 by Nelson Education Ltd. 7-25

Access to Water
Throughout the Day

• Ensure drinking water is

available for children
throughout the day

• Inside and outside

 Outdoor Play Experience Reflection
• Outdoor Play

1. What does this article say about outdoor play?

2. How has the pandemic shifted our perceptions of outdoor
play?
 Lawson Foundation: Increasing Outdoor Play in Early
Learning and Child Care in the Context of COVID-19

• Silent reading. Lawson Foundation: Increasing Outdoor

play...COVID-19

• Discussion
1. What are your thoughts on this item?
2. Are there factors you feel uncomfortable with?
3. Given what you do know about outdoor play in a child care
setting, is it feasible to be outdoors more?
MOE: Version 8 Operation Guidance during
COVID-19
• Physical Activities High contact physical activities should take place in outdoor
settings only. Masking is not required outdoors for high contact physical activities.
Low contact activities are permitted indoors. For children in grade 1 and up,
masking is encouraged but not required if a minimum of two metres distance can
be maintained between groups and as much as possible within a group.
• Field Trips Field trips are permitted as per the Reopening Ontario Act. Children
should be cohorted throughout the duration of the trip. Ratios must be
maintained as set out in the CCEYA. Health and safety requirements set out in the
guidelines and regulations (e.g. masking, eye protection) and of the place being
visited would continue to apply. Keeping daily accurate records of individuals
attending field trips (name, contact information, time of arrival/departure,
transportation, location visited) is required to facilitate contact tracing.

• What is said about Space Set-Up and Physical Distancing?

 Homework

• Review College of ECE Practice Guidelines for Supervision

• College of ECE: Supervision
• CECE: Practice guidance: Supervision.pdf

• AQI – see resources section for folders (various age groups) Review
supervision sections in the guidelines for the age groups.