Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/engaged-early-learning-providers/5023972/
The outdoor playground is the ideal place for children in early learning settings to explore and engage in daily physical activity. Playgrounds promote physical activity, healthy bone development, mood enhancement, and prevent excessive weight gain.1 Children practice gross motor skills, develop their social and emotional skills, build self-confidence, and nurture creativity.2 Yet, the most frequent and severe injuries in child care often occur in outdoor playground areas.4 Sometimes this may be because equipment may not be developmentally appropriate or properly inspected for hazards. Fortunately, these injuries truly are predictable and preventable through the use of active supervision.
Early learning providers can ensure each child stays safe while providing an engaging and challenging playground environment that optimizes child development. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics, child care safety experts, and national child care organizations strongly advocate for providers to supervise children at all times.3, 4 Leaders in early care and education see child supervision as a marker of quality care.
Active Supervision serves as an effective strategy that creates a safe environment for children to engage in active outdoor play. Providers also use active supervision strategies to teach safe play rules for older toddlers and preschool children to ...