Daycare Guardian Newsletter Where it’s all about the .1 Empowering leaders to maintain Safe Spaces for Little Ones December 2024 In This Issue: 1. Director's Corner: Navigating Crisis with Confidence Start now communicating with your community. Set the tone with a quick email or note on your program APP or ProCare. (Cut and Paste) Send this letter to your community - Dear Parents and Guardians, As we embark on a new year, safety remains our top priority. We focus on crisis management and how we are continually enhancing our practices to ensure the well-being of our youngest learners. Why send this small note? This is a proactive stance to announce to your community that the leadership team is consistently working on improving safety. As we work together in 2025, we will explore areas of prevention that you can add to your program's newsletter or monthly communication. 2. Feature incident: Preparing for Resident Runners In this feature, we delve into a crisis that daycare centers may face and how we, as a community, can be better prepared. A four-year-old bolted out of the daycare playground, unnoticed, through an unlocked gate. Wandering toward a busy road, an administrator intervened, ensuring the child’s safety. Preventive Measures: 1. Install secure gates with childproof locks. 2. Assign staff to monitor all exits during transitions. 3. Conduct regular headcounts using state headcount forms. This form should be filed and kept for 3 years. If you have an electronic form download and store it in your electronic filing system. Activity for this month: Walk the entire playground looking for any openings that you can put your fist through and repairing any broken equipment 3. Spotlight on Safety: Emergency Evacuation Drills We believe in proactive measures to handle crises. Appoint a "busy" parent to be in charge of performing anonymous emergency evacuation drills, where our staff and children will practice safe and efficient evacuation procedures. By asking a parent to host the fire drill the child's safety is a shared responsibility, and these drills are an essential part of our preparedness strategy. All the parents are responsible for calling the program anytime she has the drill schedule and announcing the drill. This will ensure that your administrative team will be on their toes and conduct the monthly required drill. Remember drills should be performed across the year during the morning learning sessions, Naptime, and before dismissal.