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Introduction and Objectives:

For this assignment you will use videos to observe and evaluate the health and safety conditions in a variety of licensed child care centers. This assignment addresses two Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) for CDE 112:

• SLO 2 – Evaluate environments for both positive and negative impacts on children’s health and safety;
• SLO 3 – Reference current regulations, standards, policies, and procedures related to health, safety, and nutrition in early childhood settings.

Preparation (all page numbers below refer to Health, Safety, and Nutrition for the Young Child, 9th Ed):

• Review Teachers’ Safety Checklist 7-4: Indoor and Outdoor Spaces (p. 185-186)
• Review Teacher Checklist 5-3: How and When to Wash Hands (p. 126)
• Review Teacher Checklist 5-4: Sanitary Diapering Procedure (p. 127)
• Review Teacher Checklist 8-3: Guidelines for Selecting Safe Toys and Play Equipment (p. 214)
• Read assigned article: Supporting Young Children’s Risky Play

Instructions and Sample:

The eight (08) video clips are divided into sections based on the Health and Safety Checklist. For each video, you will select and describe a portion of the action or environment, and compare what was observed to criteria outlined in the Health and Safety Checklist, explaining the ways the observation either meets, or does not meet, the standard(s). In addition, you will identify what you would have liked to observe on the video to be able to completely judge the component. Be sure to include a variety of checklist items in each section. Below is a sample:

Sample Video: Evan, Elyas, Lyric, and Itiah On the Bus (run time: 5:25 minutes)

• What was observed? (This can be a summary or portion of the video.)
  • I observed four children playing in the dramatic play area of the classroom. One child indicates that, “We need to go.” Two of the children move to an adjacent platform area (with two steps) and pretend to get on a bus. The girl uses a coat rack to simulate driving the bus. When they have completed the bus ride, the two children go back down the two steps. The boy has his hands full with a briefcase and other items, and he stumbles a bit on the two steps but recovers and does not fall.
• In what ways does this relate to one of the measures on the Health and Safety Checklist? (Does it meet the criteria? Why or why not? Be sure to include the Item Number from the Checklist for reference.)
  • When evaluating the classroom layout and materials, I was impressed by the size of the dramatic play area. The four children moved about comfortably, engaging with each other and a variety of props. I believe this play area is in compliance with Item 13, which indicates that “play equipment and materials are stored in designated areas; they are inspected frequently and safe for children’s use.” I noticed that the child stumbled on the steps, and wondered if a handrail or ramp should have been available, but in checking Item 16, “Stairs are covered with a non-slip surface.” A ramp for the steps would be useful for a child with mobility concerns.
• What would you have liked to observe in the video related to the item number you referenced, or to a different item on the checklist?
  • I noticed that there was a string of lights hanging down the wall on the left side of the platform area. This appears to violate Item 10, which indicates that “electrical outlets are covered with safety caps.” The lights appeared to be just hanging straight down, and should have been strung out of children’s reach to be in compliance.

Assignment Requirements:

Please write your paper using the sequence provided.

Section 1: Equipment and Furnishings — Indoor and Outdoor Checklist

• Video 1: Evan and Pharoh At the Water Table (run time: 2:31 minutes)- Indoor Checklist
  1. What was observed? (This can be a summary or portion of the video.)
  2. In what ways does this relate to one of the measures on the Health and Safety Checklist? (Does it meet the criteria? Why or why not? Be sure to include the Item Number from the Checklist for reference.)
  3. What would you have liked to observe in the video related to the item number you referenced, or to a different item on the checklist?

• Video 2: Why Children Make Play Challenging (run time: 2:22 minutes) – Indoor Checklist

Note: You may need to sign into the Saddleback Library to view this video, using your Saddleback Username and password. After signing in, please type the video title “Why Children Make Play Challenging” into the search box at the top of the screen. Then, select and watch the video by clicking the “play” arrow on the video.

1. What was observed? (This can be a summary or portion of the video.)
2. In what ways does this relate to one of the measures on the Health and Safety Checklist? (Does it meet the criteria? Why or why not? Be sure to include the Item Number from the Checklist for reference.)
3. What would you have liked to observe in the video related to the item number you referenced, or to a different item on the checklist?

• Video 3: Joy on the Playground (run time: 3:18 minutes) – Outdoor Checklist

1. What was observed? (This can be a summary or portion of the video.)
2. In what ways does this relate to one of the measures on the Health and Safety Checklist? (Does it meet the criteria? Why or why not? Be sure to include the Item Number from the Checklist for reference.)
3. What would you have liked to observe in the video related to the item number you referenced, or to a different item on the checklist?

• Video 4: Henry Gets Around (run time: 4:12 minutes) – Outdoor Checklist

1. What was observed? (This should be a portion of the video.)
2. In what ways does this relate to one of the measures on the Health and Safety Checklist? (Does it meet the criteria? Why or why not? Be sure to include the Item Number from the Checklist for reference.)
3. What would you have liked to observe in the video related to the item number you referenced, or to a different item on the checklist?

Section 2: Handwashing (Teacher Checklist 5-3, pg. 126) and Sanitary Diapering Procedure (Teacher Checklist 5-4, pg. 127)

• Video 5: Praptee at the Breakfast Table (run time: 00-0:48) – Handwashing portion only

1. What was observed? (This can be a summary or portion of the video.)
2. In what ways does this relate to one of the measures on Checklist 5-3: How and When to Wash Hands? (Does it meet the criteria? Why or why not? Be sure to include the Item Number from the Checklist for reference.)
3. What would you have liked to observe in the video related to the item number you referenced, or to a different item on the checklist?

• Video 6: Diaper Change (run time: 2:25 minutes) – Sanitary Diapering Procedure (Checklist 5-4, pg. 127)

1. What was observed? (Summarize the diaper changing procedure you were able to observe.)
2. In what ways does this relate to one of the items on Teacher Checklist 5-4? (Does it meet the criteria? Why or why not?) Did you observe other items from Checklist 5-4?
3. What additional steps would you have liked to observe so that you could verify compliance with items on Checklist 5-4?

Section 3: Guidelines for Selecting Safe Toys and Play Equipment: Teacher Checklist 8-3 (pg. 214, 9th Edition)

• Video 7: Profitt (child’s name), (run time: 3:43 minutes)

1. What was observed? (This should be a portion of the video.)
2. In what ways does this relate to one of the measures on the Health and Safety Checklist? (Does it meet the criteria? Why or why not? Be sure to include the Item Number from the Checklist for reference.)
3. What would you have liked to observe in the video related to the item number you referenced, or to a different item on the checklist?

Section 4: Provisions of Positive Emotional Climate

• Video 8: Relationships, Interactions, and Guidance: The California Early Childhood Educator Competencies (0:00 – 7:10 only)

1. What was observed? (This should be a portion of the video.)
2. In what ways does your observation relate to the three strategies below of Positive Emotional Climate provided in the video:
   1. • Building Connections/Quality of the Relationships
      • Are we smiling when children are talking to us
      • Are we providing wait time for children to respond?
3. What would you have liked to observe in the video related to the strategies for “Provisions of Positive Emotional Climate?”

Section 5: Analysis and Reflection

Safety guidelines and checklists are designed to keep children healthy and safe by providing stimulating environments that prevent injury. However, some parents and researchers argue that we limit children’s potential when we provide environments that are “too safe”.

After evaluating the videos 1-4 (Indoor/Outdoor Checklists) and reading the article, Supporting Young Children’s Risky Play, choose one of these videos that demonstrate one concept or perspective from the article and answer the following questions:

1. Identify one concept from the article on risky play that you would like to discuss.
2. Choose one video from videos 1-4 to demonstrate that concept. Name the video and describe what you observed.
3. What details from the video illustrate the concept you chose? Provide three examples with details.
4. In what ways could you share information about risky play with families and/or coworkers? What aspects would you want to convey to them?