With everything coming to a halt with the new COVID-19 virus, we must take a moment and remind ourselves and our staff the correct way to disinfect and clean the center. The Texas Minimum Standards is only a starting point. We need to make sure that our policies and daily procedures of the classroom and teachers reflect not only the minimum standard laws required for a daycare facility but also include hygiene practices to ensure the health and safety of all staff, parents, and children in the center.
One of the most important things that I see in childcare facilities, is the lack of knowledge on how to properly wash your hands. As adults, we should know but in reality, many adults so not know the proper way to wash their hands. In return, they can not teach a child how to wash their hands properly. As teachers, I also see the lack of properly instructing a child to wash their hands. This lesson is very critical for the overall health and spreading of germs in the classrooms. Children and staff need to be taught correctly on hand washing expectations and procedures.
Another mistakes that I have noticed in the childcare facilities I work with, is the lack of using a "mouthing bucket" in the infant and young preschool rooms. The "mouthing bucket" is where all the dirty toys are put after a child is done putting it in his/her mouth. When a a young child is done, this toy needs to be taken up immediately and discarded to be washed. When I used to own my own daycare, I had a bucket of toys in the morning and a bucket of toys to change out in the afternoon. This gives the infant room plenty of toys but allows you to clean the toys mid day and in the evening.
When it comes to cleaning, make sure that your teachers have access to the cleaning supplies in each classroom and put properly away from children and food. If you are using a bleach compound, make sure your staff knows that it is good only for that day. Bleach and water mixtures are no longer effective after 24 hours, so please make sure your staff is aware of creating their classroom solution prior to their shift and disregarding it at closing.
We all need to do our part to keep the classroom safe and germ free. The less germs, the less chance both staff and children will get sick. And that can boast your attendance and can get you referrals for more enrollments.
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