1. The Preschool Years (3 to 5 Years Old)
Discuss the health and safety practices that you will implement for your preschool child.
Kelly is now in the preschool I will implement the following health and safety practices to keep her safe:
Motor vehicles and bicycles
When taking Kelly on motor vehicles, I will see to it that she is properly buckled-up. When programs provide transportation for children,
appropriate child restraints or seat belt must be used. Make sure safety education with preschool includes the buckle-up message. Actively
supervise children. Ensure that gates and fences around the playground are maintained. Reinforce the message that very young children are never
to run onto the street or cross it without holding an adults hand. Help preschoolers learn traffic safety and laws. Help children learn bicycle safety
and ensure the children wear CSA-approved and properly fitted bicycle helmets. Model safe bike riding.
Source: Barbara Pimento, Deborah Kernested, (2010, 2004) Healthy Foundations in Early Childhood Settings, 368.
Hand Washing
I will teach Kelly to do the proper hand washing to prevent spread of germs. Teach Kelly to wash hands before eating, after using the bathroom,
after playing outside, after handling with pets, after coughing or sneezing and after playing with sensory items like sand. Here are essential steps in
an effective hand-washing technique:
Use warm water. Wet your hands and add soap. Rub your hands vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds. Wash all surfaces, including the backs of hands
and between fingers. Rinse your hands well under running water for 5 to 15 seconds. Dry your hands well with a towel. Turn off the taps with a
single-use towel. Dispose of the cloth or paper towel. Apply hand lotion as needed.
Source: Barbara Pimento, Deborah Kernested, (2010, 2004) Healthy Foundations in Early Childhood Settings, 133
Burns
In order to prevent Kelly from getting burns, I as virtual mom will follow the following rules: Ensure that the temperature of the hot water from
faucets does not exceed 43 degrees Centigrade. Kitchen must be inaccessible to unsupervised children. Never carry hot liquids of food near your
baby or while holding her. Cover all unused electrical outlets with plastic outlet covers. Matches and lighters must never be within children’s reach.
Source: Barbara Pimento, Deborah Kernested, (2010, 2004) Healthy Foundations in Early Childhood Settings, 368
Falls
As Kelly gets older, she becomes more active and plays in larger groups. Head injuries are associated with most deaths and severe injuries resulting
from falls. Tips to safeguard the home and keep Kelly safe from fall-related injuries.
Window safety: Never leave children alone around open windows, balconies or decks, so they can't reach the edge. Install safety guards on
all windows that are not emergency exits.
Furniture safety: Do not place toys or items that attract children on top of furniture. Don’t let children climb on furniture or use drawers and
shelves as steps. Place furniture away from windows and secure it to the wall to prevent it from tipping over.
Play safety: Actively supervise your children when they are on a playground, and provide safe places to play.
Source: http://www.safekids.org/safety-basics/big-kids/at-home/falls-prevention.html

2. .
Background or playground check: “Unintentional accidents and risks to safety are more likely to occur in the outdoor environment than indoors’
(Robertson, 2010, p. 130). Preschool playgrounds should have age appropriate equipment, shock absorbing ground coverage, and supervision.
Children need to have both shade and sun on the playground. Equipment must be checked on a daily basis for cracked swings, sharp edges, litter,
or broken toys. Children should be encouraged to use the equipment the right way; sit to swing, sit on your bottom when going down the slide or
keep the bike on the bike track. All of these rules must be explained, and modeled, to the children daily. Children sometimes have no fear and do
not think about the consequences what would happen if the stood up in the swing. Rules must be posted on the playground and parents should be
made aware of what is acceptable on the playground. Explaining to the parent that when they let their children abuse or use the playground
equipment the wrong way at their home or in the park, their children will try to do the same thing on the preschool playground. “What children
learn from their interactions and relationships with adults prepare them for life?”
Kelly who will be in preschool will be playing in the playground. To avoid accident in the playground, the teacher will do a playground check every
day.
Source: http://eathealthymovedailybehappy.blogspot.com/2011/01/safety-practices-and-policies-for.html

3. The School Age Years (6 to 12 Years Old)
As a parent, what are some of your concerns regarding your child’s health and safety during the School Age years?

4. Reflection Paper (1 page)
Think about how might your child’s development might be different if s/he was raised by people with different socioeconomic,
ethnic or cultural backgrounds. How would the concept of the “whole child” play a role?
(Please avoid stereotypes)
I think there is no difference, if my child was raised by people with different socio economic, ethnic or
cultural background, because the philosophy of parents is to raise a child in a healthy and safety manner. The
parent’s love, care and attention given to the child will be the same, so the concept of “whole child” is
present. The parent will teach or educate the child, support, and guide and take care of them.
If the parent is rich, the child will enjoy the lifestyle of the rich family, but the concern of the parent in
raising the child will be primarily the health and safety of the child.
If the parent is poor, the child will not be able to enjoy all the nice lifestyle as the rich, but the parent still
focuses on the health and safety of her child.
Material things will matter, but the concept of raising the child will be the same even if you came from
different cultural backgrounds, ethnic and socio economic. The way of raising a child might be different, but
the role and responsibilities of a parent are the same, which is to raise a healthy child in a safe environment.
A “whole child” means she is physically, emotionally /socially and intellectually developed. This also means
that the child was raised in a healthy and safety environment.