Safety is our #1 priority! 

Each of us will provide and promote a safe environment for the children that is both physically and emotionally safe. 

Physical Safety

• Follow school rules- children and adults! Lead by example.

• Be aware of where the children are at all times. Children must always remain in the supervision of a staff member.

• Use good judgment. Prevent accidents by constantly observing and anticipating potentially dangerous situations. Ask yourself questions such as “Could this be potentially unsafe?” and “Is the environment safe?”

Examples of good judgment:

• Stopping a game when children start to get too rough or competitive and it could potentially lead to an unsafe situation.

• Choosing to play tag on the grass instead of the black top.

• Playing with the children on their level. You are playing with them, not against them.

• Create boundaries for the children which allows you to see, hear and quickly attend to them at all times. (Use back to the wall method where children are never behind you)

• No leader clumping. This means separating yourself from other staff/volunteers, no sitting and/or socializing with other adults.

• Constantly walk around to observe and interact with the children. 

• Communicate safety concerns and injuries with an employee immediately. 

Emotional Safety

A child’s emotional wellbeing is just as important as their physical safety.

You can support this by:

• • Building trust. Make kids feel safe opening up to you.

  • Listening empathetically. If a child shares something difficult, take it seriously. Acknowledge their feelings—never dismiss or downplay them.

  • Encouraging and praising. Help children build confidence by celebrating their efforts and progress.

  • Avoiding sarcasm or hurtful jokes.

  • Responding with compassion. Behavior is often driven by emotion—listen first, then respond calmly and supportively.

  • Addressing exclusion and bullying right away. Every child deserves to feel included.

  • Fostering friendships. Create opportunities for children to interact and connect through play.

  • Promoting fun over competition. Focus on inclusion, effort, and good sportsmanship—not just winning.

Restraining Children & Elopement

Elopement, or running away from supervised areas, is a dangerous and problematic behavior. If a child leaves your group and refuses to come back with your verbal instructions, contact the site supervisor immediately for assistance. You may not leave your group unsupervised to attend to the child refusing to stay with the group. Do your best to keep the child in your line of sight until another adult can assist.

The only time you can physically restrain a participant is if they are in immediate danger of bodily injury.  

Restroom Procedures

The restroom is the only time of day that a child will be out of staff’s direct supervision.

• Staff and volunteers may not enter the restroom when children are inside. 

• Staff and volunteers should always use the adult restroom.