Creating a Safe Environment for Children

Your organization has a responsibility to provide a safe setting for its smallest and most vulnerable members—its children. You can create a safe environment by performing regular inspections, monitoring safety criteria, preventing sexual misconduct and using background checks.

 

Perform Regular Inspections

You’ll want to regularly review and inspect the areas of your facility that are most frequented by children:

• Daycare rooms
• Playground
• Nursery rooms
• Gym
• Bathrooms used by children

Consider electing dedicated personnel to conduct weekly inspections of the facilities and all first aid kits. Check the rooms, equipment and toys used by your children’s programs for the potential hazards below and make immediate corrections if hazards are found:

• Wires and cords within reach of children.
• Drapery or cords within reach of children or cribs.
• Missing outlet covers.
• Sharp points and edges on toys, furniture and playground equipment.
• Small or broken toys that pose a choking hazard to young children.
• Cabinets and low drawers without a closure, especially those containing cleaning supplies or medications.
• Broken or missing gates, especially near stairways.
• Broken highchairs, changing tables, cribs, bassinets, playpens, strollers and other equipment or furniture.

 

Monitor Safety Criteria

While nurseries and daycare rooms should be monitored weekly for immediate dangers, the below tasks should also be performed regularly:

• Inventory first aid kits.
• Check the batteries in all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Ensure toys are separated by age level and are only available to children of the appropriate ages.

 

Prevent Sexual Misconduct

Your organization can be proactive in protecting the children in your ministry by employing these sexual misconduct prevention items:

• Screen employees and volunteers with a background check.
• Create organizational policies and procedures regarding prevention of sexual misconduct and the methods for handling allegations.
• Educate staff, volunteers, parents and children on risk factors for sexual abuse and methods of prevention.
• Ensure employees and volunteers complete initial and follow-up training on how to appropriately work with youth.

 

Use Background Checks

Every employee and each volunteer that works with children and youth will need to undergo a background check to ensure they can be entrusted with the care of children. Your organization has a responsibility not only to protect its children, but also to preserve the mission and ministry of the organization.

Further information regarding background checks and resources for nursery and daycare safety can be found on the GuideVantage page of our website.