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Action 8: Model Safe Behaviors

The governing body, Policy Council, and program leaders set the tone for implementing safety practices. They do this by establishing an organizational culture that prioritizes the safety and well-being of children, families, and staff. Program leaders develop effective policies and procedures and strong management systems to maintain a culture of safety.

Leaders and staff show their commitment to a culture of safety when they model safe behaviors. When staff demonstrate safe behaviors, they encourage children and families to use them too.

Model Safe Behaviors

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Action 8. Model Safe Behaviors

Children learn from watching and interacting with the adults in their lives. Everyone benefits when managers, staff, and families follow safety practices. When you know and follow your safety related policies, you help your children see, repeat, and practice the safe behaviors that you are modeling.

Talk to children about why we have safety rules. When taking a walk with the children, talk about the ways you are staying safe. When you come to an intersection, talk about holding hands, looking both ways, and crossing the street only when an adult says it is safe. By talking and doing, you create a positive association with the experience and a lasting memory for children to draw upon when they find themselves in that situation again.

At mealtime, talk about why it is safer to be seated. Take small bites of food and chew slowly to model safe eating behaviors. When you follow the proper steps to wash your hands, and explain what you are doing, you show children the right way to wash their hands so they can be healthy and safe.

Model ways to help children learn how to judge what is safe. Explain when to use walking feet and when it is okay to run, so children learn to move around their play areas safely. Teach them not to leave toys in a walking area where someone may trip. When playing outside, wear a hat to block the sun and drink enough water to show children and their families how to be safe outdoors.

One way to model safety practices for families, is to talk about how to look for and eliminate hazards using a safety checklist. You can also help them get safety equipment like gates and cabinet locks to prevent injuries at home. Your conversations with other staff members are another chance to model safe behaviors for children and adults.

When you are preparing to scan and count children before going to the playground, talk out loud about why you're counting and checking the classroom to be sure that no child is left behind. Keeping open lines of communication with coworkers supports a learning culture that encourages people to speak up if they have a safety concern.

In a culture of safety, we embrace every chance to model the safe behaviors we want to see in children, families, and each other.

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Implementation Tips

  • Elevate safety practices throughout the program. Inform the governing body and Policy Council about safety. By routinely discussing ongoing monitoring reports and strategies, leadership teams can work together to strengthen their management systems to make sure everyone is safe. Also share information about safety incidents and corrective action plans with staff, advisors, and governing bodies.
  • Lead by example. Leading by example motivates others to mirror your behavior. This is one of the hallmarks of an organization that embraces a culture of safety.
  • Use your mental health consultant to strengthen safety practices. Mental health consultants can engage in program-focused, child-focused, and group-focused consultation. They can support adults to model safe behaviors and build responsive relationships with children.
  • Enhance safety practices through practice-based coaching (PBC). Children learn in the context of relationships, but adults may need support to consistently model safe behaviors. PBC supports effective teaching practices that can help teachers implement safety practices and model safe behaviors. Celebrate what staff do well, identify areas for improvement, and provide ongoing support to help staff be successful.
  • Teach children safe behaviors. Children learn by watching what their caregivers do. Offering children positive role models helps them see and practice safe behaviors. Teach children how to stay safe and ask older children to help show safety rules, such as using walking feet inside, holding hands to cross the street, and wearing a helmet.

Resources to learn more:

Caring for Our Children Standard 2.4.1.2: Staff Modeling of Healthy and Safe Behavior and Health and Safety Education Activities
Fundamental Values, Knowledge, and Skills to Manage Health Services 
Virtual Lab School: Developing and Teaching Safety Rules

Read more:

,  Safety Practices