Physical care routines

1. What physical care routines you might carry out?

 Hand washing
 Toilet training
 Changing clothes
 Nappy changing
 Face cleaning
 Wiping noses
 Wiping bottom after toilet
 Food serving
 Feeding
 Putting shoes on
 Applying creams
 Skin care
 Sleep times
 Providing opportunities to access fresh air

2. How do you plan and carry out physical care routines suitable to the
age, stage and needs of the child?

Washing hands:
Children are encouraged to wash hands daily when necessary. They are
aware of the routine on when we do it. They are encouraged to be
independent in their hand washing when they can. To support and adapt
them to different needs and stages, I would encouraged the child to be
independent and take the role in the hand washing by supporting them. If
they do not want to wash hands, I would make it into a fun game so that
we can do it together. If a child does not like the feel of water on their
skin due to their needs, I would try and encourage and distract them or
just use some wipes to clean hands. If possible encourage them to wipe
them themselves with wipes to grow in independence. Children are
provided with appropriate facilities and if needed, can be taken to a
different facility if their needs require them to.

Nappy changing:
During nappy change times appropriate PPE is always worn and changed
after each change. Area is wiped after every child and ensured it is always
clean and everything needed is ready before changing time. Children are
provided with an appropriate facility and are shielded as much as possible
to ensure privacy when changed. To adapt it to different needs and
stages, I would ensure what the child needs is provided. If a child needs a
distraction due to them always moving and unable to lay still, I would
provide them with a toy or a book. Whenever changing I include the child
in the process by talking to them about what is happening and letting
them hold the nappy needed. When a child gets distressed due to pain, I
would give them comfort and distract them as much as possible. If
needed I would ask a help from another staff to distract the child while I
try and clean them. If a child in nappy shows interest in going on a potty,
they are provided to try it in privacy from other children.

Changing clothes:
When a child needs to change their clothing, we ensure they are changed
and are always clean and dry. If a child does not have a clothing item
needed we provide them with a spare one from nursery. Children are
always included in a process of choosing their clothes and are encouraged
to try take their clothes on and off by themselves. To adapt it to their
needs and stages, they are helped with putting clothes but still
encouraged in a fun way to take part in it. They are provided with option
of clothing they can choose and if upset they have to change their
favourite top, I discus with them why it needs changing and that they can
chose a new one and this top will go home in the wash. Communication
and talking about what is happening and their opinions and thoughts in a
way they can understand is key to any situation.

3. What potential dilemmas could occur between the rights and

choices of a child and health and safety requirements and how
could these be overcome?

Potential dilemmas could include a child saying no, refusing to do a basic

need task, child saying that he doesn’t like something that he needs.
Example would be a child needing medicine and refusing to take it. If the
medication was not something that the child depended on for their life
(pain killer medicine, etc), their decision would be respected. They would
still be encouraged to take it in a playful way. Distraction and talking is
key. If they still refuse to take it after a while, parents would be informed
and we would try to administer it after a break. Child would never be
forced to take a medicine. If the medicine is important for child’s health
(epi pen, antibiotics, etc),and they refused, they would be encouraged in
a fun way and distracted with something they like to take it. If the
medicine was able to be taken in a different way they would be
encourage to take in that way (juice instead of water, tablet put in
yoghurt, etc). In a situation where the medicine was needed immediately,
their decision would not he listened and the medicine would be taken but
in a way that child understands it and can take part in it to make them
included in the situation.
Another example would be child refusing to go to the toilet.
They would always be encouraged to try and if needed distracted with
their favourite toy or book to help them go. If a child keeps refusing, their
decision would be respected and child would never be forced to go toilet
or put on the toilet without their will. Child would then again be
encouraged to try the toilet again and again every so often to ensure they
go when comfortable. I would also talk to a child about importance of
going to the toilet in a way they can understand. Child is also given an
option of toilet or potty to let them feel included and chose whichever
comfortable.

In any situation child would be talked to about in a way they can

understand and would be encourage to take part in the activity, give
them a little task they can do so they feel included and have a part. Child
would be distracted with things they like and situation would be made
into a game. Children’s choices and their rights would always be listened
to and respected, except in certain scenarios where their life depends on
it.