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• What to look for in determining good supervision
• Caregivers must be able to hear and see children at all times to monitor safety and be immediately available in an emergency situation (e.g. child choking; infant stops breathing while asleep; a fire breaks out in the building).



Note: Caregivers who are actively involved, aware, and appreciative of young children's behaviors are in the best position to keep children safe.


• Appropriate child:staff ratios are met during all hours of operation including arrival and departure times.



Hint: The lower the number of children to each caregiver , the better ability for the caregiver to supervise and interact with the children in their care. See Child Staff Ratios Section.


• All children can been seen and heard during sleeping.



• All children are supervised while being transported. Being in a vehicle does not eliminate the need for children to be supervised. There should be enough caregivers in the vehicle so that the driver is not expected to supervise children while driving the vehicle. Child: staff ratios are maintained during field trips.



• Caregivers are on the same floor as the children.



• Caregivers count children at regular times on a scheduled basis and whenever leaving one area and arriving at another.



Hint: If a child has hidden or wandered off, regular counting of children will alert the staff to begin a search before the child gets too far or into trouble.


• Active and positive supervision involves:


1. Knowing each child's abilities.
2. Establishing clear and simple safety rules.
3. Being aware of potential safety hazards.
4. Standing in a strategic position.
5. Scanning play activities and moving around.
6. Focusing on the positive rather than the negative to teach a child what is safe.


• The environment is designed so that caregivers can see all areas and hear children at all times.



• Handwashing and diapering areas are designed so that supervision of other children in their care is possible.



• Substitutes and volunteers have been trained on good supervision techniques.



• Why is constant supervision important?
• Supervision is BASIC to preventing injury and harm.



• Children like to test their skills and abilities. Serious injury can occur in play areas (inside and out) and near bodies of water if constant supervision is not maintained.



For example: Small children can drown within 30 seconds, in as little as 2 inches of liquid. (Caring for Our Children Standard 3.045).




• Children should never be left unattended in vehicles because deaths have occurred when vehicles have become too hot or cold and children . The importance of counting children prior to getting into a vehicle and upon exiting the vehicle is one way to make sure children are not left behind.