Ensure that the playground equipment is safe and discuss playground safety rules with the preschoolers. Choose swings that are made of rubber or plastic. Do not allow preschoolers to stand on the swings or play on the ground where other children are swinging. Encourage children to sit on their bottoms and slide feet first down the slide. Tell preschoolers to slide one at at time and not in groups. Choose plastic jungle gyms that are no more than 3 feet off the ground. Fill the playground area with rubber mulch or plastic padding that meets your state's standards. Make sure all children's clothing is properly tied and laced. Loose shoe strings and shirt straps can get caught on playground equipment.
Create a student-to-teacher ratio that is preferably 4:1 for 2-year-olds and 7:1 for 3-year-olds. Research your state's minimum student-to-teacher ratio requirements. Make sure that every child is supervised at all times during the school day.
Develop a health plan that ensures the safety of the preschoolers. Follow all state regulations concerning preschoolers' health and the cleanliness of the facility. Create a written policy that addresses how you will care for sick children and how you will treat communicable diseases. Keep a first-aid safety kit accessible for all workers. Post emergency numbers on the walls and near telephones. Cover all electrical outlets with plastic security caps.
Create safe classroom, facility and recreational guidelines. Sanitize all toys every day and get rid of toys that are broken or have rough edges. Refrigerate all perishable food and clean out old food every week. Keep all cleaning supplies in a tall locked storage area that is not accessible to the preschoolers. Install security gates at the top and bottom of all flights of stairs.
Install emergency equipment and post an evacuation plan. Install smoke detectors, fire alarms and fire extinguishers in appropriate locations. Consult the board of education in your state to determine where and how many pieces of equipment are required. Post and discuss an emergency evacuation plan with the teachers, staff and preschoolers.
Develop a classroom behavior plan that includes rewards and punishments for misconduct. Never allow a child to harm or endanger another child. Choose rounded edge scissors for art projects and enforce proper use. Encourage respectful behavior and reward positive actions. Contact parents if a child displays aggressive or dangerous behavior.