Active Supervision in Early Childhood Programs

What is the purpose of active supervision in an early childhood program?

• To ensure that every child is playing nicely and getting along well with peers

• To observe children at all times while supporting their learning and keeping them safe

• To build positive relationships with every child

• To make sure no child ever gets hurt while attending our program

Which statements are true about active supervision?

(Check all that apply)

• Promotes a safe environment and prevents injuries in young children

• Is necessary only when staff are new or inexperienced

• Helps children to explore their environment safely

• Can be used in classrooms, on playgrounds, on buses, and on field trips

SCAN and COUNT:

What strategy can teachers use to ensure they are aware of where children are during play time and transitions?

• Visually identify the children assigned to them to make sure no one is missing ("name-to-face recognition")

• Listen to the children's ideas and support their play

• Stand at opposite corners of the playground or classroom

• Take turns walking around to count all the children every 30 minutes

ENGAGE and REDIRECT:

How can teachers respond to a child who is throwing sand at his classmates?

• Ignore the behavior and focus on other children

• Quickly move the child to a different area

• Stand close to the child and redirect his behavior

• Move away from the child and let him continue throwing sand

ANTICIPATE CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR:

During outdoor play, a teacher notices that a child is jumping from the third step of a climbing structure, and other children (whose motor skills are not as advanced) are trying to do the same. What can the teacher do to support children who are not developmentally ready to jump from the climbing structure?

• Encourage the children who are not developmentally ready to play in a different area

• Ask a colleague to help you watch those children

• Remove the climbing structure to prevent injury

• Stand close to the steps on the climbing structure and offer a hand or suggest a lower step

Play time is over. A teacher asks Ben, a child who has trouble coming inside from playtime, to help her pass out water bottles to his classmates. What strategy is Maria using to support Ben during this transition?

• Scan and Count

• Set Up The Environment

• Position Staff

• Engage and Redirect

Teacher A leads the line and Teacher B takes the back end, holding Ben's hand.

What strategy are the teachers using to ensure safety during this transition?

• Listen

• Position Staff

• Scan and Count

• Set Up The Environment

What can teachers do to ensure they are actively engaged with the children and each other?

• Use systems and strategies to observe children and support them in exploring the environment safely

• Take turns to do head counts every 30 minutes

• Stay close to children with challenging behaviors and let the other children explore the environment freely

• Signal to each other when a child moves to a different area of the classroom

What does active supervision look like in your classroom?

Share one example.