Playground

By EEC regulations a minimum of 60 minutes of age-appropriate gross motor activity (outside, inside, or a combination of both) must be incorporated into each full-time child’s day.

Toddler and preschool children must be taken outside every day, weather permitting. Staff may be advised to stay inside if it is raining or snowing heavily, if the heat index is above 90°F, or if the temperature (including wind chill) falls below 15°F.

During the summer months, and on exceptionally hot days, we limit outside time to before 10:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m. Administration will notify you if an outdoor schedule is adjusted. We provide shaded areas on each playground.

Management

Teaching teams should work with the children in your class to establish cooperative play and safety “rules” for the playground. The rules you create and communicate to the children should include the following:

• No crashing bikes into the gates, doors, or each other.
• No kicking or throwing balls toward the building or fences.
• No standing on the swings.
• Which objects (man-made and natural) stay on the ground, and which can be thrown or tossed.

Bring water outside for children every day—remember to bring it in when you come in.

Maintenance

All educators are required to:

• Periodically rake mulch into any low spots under swings or climbing equipment.
• Bring back anything that you or the children brought outside.

Morning playground check

• Pick up any trash.
• When needed, empty barrel, replace bag, and replace lid tightly.
• Sweep paved areas.
• Dispose of broken toys (and advise an Administrator when you do).
• Make sure all paths are clear in case of evacuation.

Evening playground check

• Place all trash in barrels; replace lid tightly.
• When needed, move barrel inside to be emptied.
• Place all small toys in storage bins.
• Move all large toys under canopies or in bike shed.
• Park bikes neatly in shed or against the wall on the playground.
• Bring in any children’s belongings.
• Coil hose after use.
• Bring in blankets/mats and store strollers.

Sunscreen

We are vigilant about ensuring that children use sunscreen before going outside from May through September. We encourage parents to provide hats, sun-protective clothing, and sunglasses for use at school.

We require that families apply sunscreen to their child prior to arriving at First Circle. If a parent has forgotten to do that, provide them with center sunscreen to apply before they depart. If the parent wishes to apply aerosol spray sunscreen, ask them to do so outside.

With morning sunscreen already applied, educators do not need to apply it for morning playground time. Parents must complete a Sunscreen Permission Slip (to use the school supplied Rocky Mountain Sunscreen), or an Authorization for Topical Medication Form if they choose to provide their own brand of sunscreen.

Sunscreen must be applied to each child for afternoon playground time. To apply sunscreen:

• Use gloves.
• Apply at least 30 minutes before going outside.
• Re-apply if more than 2 hours has passed and you are going outside again.
• Apply sunscreen to all exposed skin, especially arms, legs, shoulders, face, and ears.
• Store sunscreen out of children’s reach.

insect repellants

Some parents may choose to provide insect repellent for us to apply daily between May and September. An authorization for topical application form must be completed for it to be applied. Please follow instructions for application and use on the product.