How to Choose a Safe Preschool
When you make the decision to send your child to preschool, you want to know that he or she will be kept as safe at preschool as possible. No parents want to get the phone call that their child has been injured on the playground, has hurt itself on unsafe furniture, or even worse, has been exposed to people who have no business being in a preschool setting. The safety precautions and security measures that a preschool puts in place should be able to put your mind at ease and not leave you wondering if your child will be okay.
There are a number of ways a preschool can work toward keeping your child secure and making its preschool a safe place to be. Here are a few things to consider when identifying what is a safe preschool for you to send your child to:
1. Playground Setting
What type of surface does the preschool have in its playground? This really should matter a great deal to you. A rubber surface in a playground setting will go a long way towards preventing your child from sustaining low impact injuries, which can be common on a child’s playground. It is definitely a plus when looking to keep your child safe. Also, having wood chips or rubber pellets as a surface in a playground setting could mean that those items end up in the mouths of younger children, possibly becoming choking hazards. Children can also sustain splinters from wood chips.
2. Proper Children’s Furniture
Children should use furniture, whether it is highchairs, tables, chairs, etc. that are made specifically for their little bodies. Using furniture that is not intended for children could lead to injuries. Make sure the preschool you are considering has strong and safe furniture in place.
3. Clean Setting
While this sounds like an obvious thing to consider when choosing a preschool, some schools will take extra measures to ensure their space stays as clean as possible. This is in order to prevent the spread of germs, which is always common in a preschool setting. For example, some preschools are now opting for rubber flooring throughout the school. This type of flooring is the same type that is used by modern hospitals. It not only will help reduce bumps and bruises for children who are new to walking, but it also does not allow for the growth of bacteria, nor does it require strong chemicals to clean the floor.
4. Security Measures
Sometimes it feels like our world is a different place than when we were children. Most parents don’t remember having to do “lock down drills” at their school, never mind at preschool! However, security is a big issue these days. You have to be able to feel at ease when you drop your child off at a preschool that he or she will stay safe and secure, with only the appropriate people gaining access to that preschool setting. You need to find a preschool that has the proper security measures in place. For example, some preschools have a touch screen and require fingerprinting in order to gain access to the preschool. Other preschools are equipped with cameras so that you will be able to view your child from your home or office while he or she is at preschool.
Choosing a preschool that has the right measures in place to keep your child safe on the playground and inside the classroom, as well as in a safe and secure environment, will go a long way toward making you feel good about your decision.