Summer Safety Tips for Child Care Providers: Part 2
The summer is a great time for children to get outside, have fun, and explore nature. As you complete training for child care professionals, think about exciting ways that you can take advantage of the warm weather. To ensure the experience is safe and fun, check out these tips.
Summer Safety Tips
Before taking children outside during the summer, consider ways to make the experience as safe as possible. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Make sure children are dressed for warm temperatures. Light colors tend to stay cooler, while dark colors absorb the heat.
- Maximize time in the shade. If possible, choose outdoor areas with lots of natural shade or bring a canopy. Also try moving picnic tables to the shade or hold activities in the shade.
- Bring lots of water. Children need to stay hydrated, especially in the summer heat. Make sure to take plenty of water breaks during your time outside.
Learn More About Summer Safety
These recommendations are just the tip of the iceberg. If you're going to be spending a lot of time outdoors with children, you should also complete some courses on safety while doing your training for child care. Some courses to take could include:
Essentials of Outdoor Safety — This course provides you with two credits toward earning or renewing your CDA, and it covers some of the most critical information you need to know about outdoor safety. Consider taking this course along with the Essentials of Indoor Safety. Then, you will have more knowledge about how to create safe spaces for young children, regardless of your environment.
Responding to Medical Emergencies — Should an accident happen while caring for young children, taking this hour-long course taken during your training for child care will be helpful. This course provides you with important information you might need if one of your students gets hurt or has a medical emergency.
Emergency Preparedness: Better Safe Than Sorry — Of course when emergencies pop up, knowing what to do is only half the battle. You also need the right items to take those actions. While doing your training for child care, this course pairs well with the “Responding to Medical Emergencies” course mentioned earlier. It helps outline the essentials needed to both pack a first aid kit and to prepare for various emergencies.
MyPlate: Helping Children Make Healthy Food Choices — If you go out for the day, you may pack a picnic or make alternative arrangements for the children’s dining experience. In this course, you learn how to prepare a healthy, balanced meal, as well as how to help children make healthy food choices. This is great information that can be used either inside the classroom or outside during a summer field day.
At ProSolutions Training, we offer online professional development to child care professionals and educators. If you're trying to earn your CDA or if you need to complete courses to keep your current credentials active, you should sign up for our training for child care courses. We offer everything you need, and best of all, you can complete our courses conveniently from your own home, and you can work around your schedule.
