By Quality First Assessor, Laurel Rodriquez
When you step into a child care program, whether center-based or home-based, you’ll notice art masterpieces, calming spaces, shelves full of colorful books and blocks stacked high.
But tucked between the tables, cozy corners and play spaces, there can also be safety hazards, some obvious and some hidden. I promise, this is not about bubble-wrapping every corner. This is about spotting little things that can make a big difference in children’s safety.
Electrical outlet safety
When my son was two years old, he went straight for an outlet in our home. My first reaction was to yell, “No!” and rush to stop him. He was safe, but my reaction scared him. A simple outlet cover could have prevented both the risk and the scare.
Children under five are the most likely to be injured by outlets. In fact, about seven children are injured every day, with 89% being children from birth to age five. Children are curious, and outlet covers are an easy fix that lets children explore safely.
Choking hazards in child care
Young children often put objects where they don’t belong: mouths, ears and noses. My daughter once shoved a popcorn kernel up her nose!
At a recent gathering, a friend’s toddler began choking on a piece of ice. The room froze in fear. Thankfully, she recovered—but it was a reminder of how fast choking happens, often without warning. Each year, more than 17,000 children go to the ER for choking incidents. A simple tool, like a “choke tube tester”, can help you quickly check if an item is safe or a choking risk.
In classrooms, common choking hazards include:
- Marker and paint dauber caps
- Broken crayons
- Unifix cubes
Other hidden dangers
Play dough and shaving cream can support creativity and sensory exploration—but also pose risks if ingested or misused. With close, engaged supervision, these hazards can be reduced. The key is teacher presence and quick response.
However, some materials aren’t appropriate in child care, even with close supervision:
- Kinetic sand: Not safe for children under three.
- Water beads: Linked to over 1,000 ER visits each year. They can be swallowed, inserted in the ears or nose, and can even cause chemical risks.
Water beads may be fun to touch, but they do not belong in classrooms. Safer water play alternatives include funnels, measuring cups, toy animals and food coloring.
Infant safety: Sleep and handling
Infants face unique risks! It’s easy to focus on feeding and play while overlooking tiny details and potential hazards.
- Safe sleep: Always place infants on their backs in an empty crib—no pillows, blankets or toys. It may not look cozy, but it saves lives.
- Safe lifting: Never lift a child by the arms or wrists. This can cause elbow or shoulder injuries. Instead, lift under the arms or around the torso, creating a safe and positive interaction by making eye contact and sharing a smile.
We will never catch every hazard—children are curious and quick. But with a few simple steps, we can make classrooms a safer place to grow and explore.
Use the checklist below to review your classroom and help protect children who are too young to protect themselves.
Classroom hazards safety checklist
- Every outlet is covered
- All choking hazards are identified (anything that fits in a choke tube tester) and removed (when appropriate)
- When materials with small caps are used, the caps are moved out of children’s reach
- I do not have any accessible water beads
- I do not use kinetic sand with children under 3 years old
- When hands-on materials are used (play-dough, shaving cream, paint, etc.) I provide close, attentive supervision.
- Every infant is laid to sleep on their back, in their crib
- There is only a mattress with a fitted sheet in the crib
- Every infant or child is picked up under the arm, by their armpits or torso.
- The diaper changing table has a ledge
- Furniture that infants or toddlers could pull up on or climb is secure
- Vinyl climbing blocks (if used) are placed over a soft surface
- Sand play (when used) is swept off the floor
- Water play (when used) is wiped off the floor
- Cleaning products are stored up high and/or in a locked cabinet.
- Wooden play materials are in good condition and not splintering.
References
- Nardi NM, Schaefer TJ. Nursemaid Elbow. 2023 Aug 14. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan–. PMID: 28613528.
- Water Beads | CPSC.gov
- Home Renovation: Childproofing Outlets – Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI)
- Electrical Receptacle Related Injury Statistics – Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI)
- https://doi.org/10.1542/9781610024334-part03-prevention_of_choking (AAP)