A child’s growth and development is continually shaped and influenced by their environment. One of the easiest ways to develop and preserve a safe and healthy environment for children is to abide by state licensing standards. These licensing standards are there to ensure that child care environments are safe and healthy for young children. Not only is the physical environment included in licensing, but teacher qualifications and the quality of educational programs are also included and equally important. I believe that teachers and caregivers with a solid background in childhood development, effective communication skills, and the ability to create developmentally appropriate learning experiences are much more beneficial to a young child’s education than someone without one or all of these qualities. Teachers also need to be educated on the different developmental stages of children to be able to eliminate any potential safety hazards. In my preschool classroom, I check for sharp objects or corners, broken toys, and toxic cleaning materials that may be left at a child’s reach. A safe environment provides children with the ability to explore and learn through play.
A child care facility should take building security very seriously. Our building have a keypad installed for parents and employers to enter an exit the building. This is effective in controlling unauthorized entrance of strangers or unwelcome visitors. Surveillance cameras are also installed to monitor who is either entering or exiting the building. The program administrators work closely with local law enforcement, fire, and safety officials to assess a center’s risk and to develop security plans that will protect everyone in the building. The programs security plans are included in the parent handbook, for parents and guardians to know and become familiar with the center’s policies in emergency