One of the main factors in promoting health and safety in an early childhood centre, is providing children with a safe environment. Having a healthy and safe environment protects children from harm, and helps promote their independence through decision making and creating new challenges. According to MacNaughton and Williams (2008) “Staff need to decide how to place materials and equipment in the physical learning environment to best assist children’s learning” (p.3). A way to promote safety …show more content…
Since germs are easily spread throughout children meaning that a simple cold can start with one child and then spread through them to others. Procedures should be put in place for staff to follow in order to help prevent the spread of germs. According to Marotz, Cross and Rush (2005) the ideal time for children to learn about habits and practices to promote good health is to start teaching them in their early years. Early childhood teachers play an important role in promoting hygienic practices within the centre. A way for them to ensure that the environment is clean and hygienic is to follow the cleaning routine that the centre has in their safety procedures. Making sure to keep toys and surfaces cleaned during the day, for example if a child has been chewing on a toy, then the teacher should clean it before another child can use it. Another way is to teach the children how they can stop germs from spreading, teaching them basic hygiene, like washing their hands before and after eating and also after going to the bathroom, and other habits for example, drinking bottles and glasses have germs on them which is why you shouldn’t …show more content…
Being provided with good nutritional diet can help a child with learning, strengthening their immune system, and supplying the endless energy for play. (Marotz, 2012). Providing children with dietary requirements needed for a healthy well-being. Since early childhood is a good time for a child to develop healthy eating habits, an early childhood teacher can help promote this in a centre. Following the food and nutrition policy in an early childhood service is a great way to provide children with the right nutrition. It means that the policy is based on serving food and beverages which meet the recommendations in the ministry of health’s food and nutrition guidelines. Having a meal plan that provides children with all the food groups needed for a healthy diet is another way to promote healthy eating. Another way a teacher can help promote healthy eating is to get the children involved in growing, preparing and sharing food which will teach them to appreciate where food comes from., getting children to grow their own seedlings that they can take home and