by Stefanie Camoni
Are you new to early childhood? Have you been in the field for a couple years? Have you lived this your entire life? No matter where you are on your journey, the topic of supervision should always be a top priority. Supervision means to see, hear, direct, and assess the children in your group at all times. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services regulation on the supervision of children is as follows:
3270.113. Supervision of Children
(a) Children on the facility premises and on facility excursions off the premises shall be supervised by a staff person at all times. Outdoor play space used by the facility is considered part of the facility premises.
(1) Each staff person shall be assigned the responsibility for supervision of specific children. The staff person shall know the names and whereabouts of the children in his assigned group. The staff person shall be physically present with the children in his group on the facility premises and on facility excursions off the facility premises
As a teacher, always think about where your back is. Is it to the children? If so, position yourself to face the majority of the children. Keep that in mind as we consider various aspects of supervision. First let’s consider the environment. There may be things in the classroom design outside of your control but look at what is able to be rearranged. Consider arranging the furniture so it is easy to see all children. If there are higher pieces of furniture, they may work better near a wall where children cannot hide behind them. A diaper changing table can be a tricky piece of equipment. Find a spot that allows you to change a diaper while still supervising the rest of the children. During mealtimes, you want to be within arm’s reach of younger children while they are eating. Determine where the food is located for serving. Can you still supervise your children? During naptime, be sure there is adequate room lighting. Although you want a calm environment, some lighting is necessary for safety. While children are resting on individual bedding, continue to be aware and monitor them frequently. Finally, think about supervision during transitions. While moving from one space to another, always face most of the children; it may be helpful to walk in front of or behind the line of children as long as you can see them all. Greeting and communicating with families during drop off and pick up is important but do not lose sight of the children. Position yourself so you can talk with families and still see the children in the space.
Visit Better Kid Care to access various on-demand trainings about supervision.
Always remember, DHS regulations on supervision must be followed in PA licensed childcare centers. If you have questions, please contact your DHS representative.
