more... > Family > Childcare > Be Child Care Aware > Environments > Outdoor Play Provides Rich Environment For Learning When choosing a child-care facility it is just as important to visit the outside spaces as it is to tour the classrooms. Playing outdoors provides the opportunity for young children to use and develop their large muscles and cognitive abilities. Be Child Care Aware: Arm Yourself With Skills To Tackle Terrible Tantrums Temper tantrums aren’t uncommon in young children. The key for adults is learning how to deal with them, says LSU AgCenter child-care associate Cheri Gioe. Be Child Care Aware: Changing Classes Can Be Stressful For Children [Image: kids] Some of the most stressful times children experience come when they move from one classroom to another, according to LSU AgCenter child-care associate Cheri Gioe. Changing Classes Can Be Stressful For Children Some of the most stressful times children experience come when they move from one classroom to another. There are many things parents and caregivers can do to facilitate a smooth move from one classroom to another.  more articles... Daily Routines Offer Children Security By following a routine and providing a predictable einvironment, children can feel secure in their child care environment and learn that they can trust their caregivers to meet their needs. Child Safety in the Garden [Image: Girl in Garden] Spending time in the landscape with children, especially young ones, requires adults to pay careful attention. Just as you would childproof an indoor room, it’s important to take safety precautions in the yard to keep young ones safe. Caregivers Should Examine Playground Safety [Image: playground] Most injuries to young children in school or child-care environments occur outdoors, so playground safety definitely should be a concern in a child-care setting. Approximately 40 percent of the outdoor injuries to children are due to poor adult supervision," says LSU AgCenter child-care associate Cheri Gioe. "That means supervision is an essential component of playground safety." Keeping Sick Children Out Of Child-care Centers Protects Others Parents who depend on child-care centers need to know the policies of their center and to keep in mind that those policies are designed to keep disease outbreaks from spreading to all children. Infants, Toddlers Need Welcoming, Responsive Environment [Image: caregiver with toddlers] Child-care environments play an important role in the healthy growth and development of infant and toddlers. Since infants and toddlers spend a large portion of their day in routines such as saying hello or good-bye, getting dressed, diapering, toileting and mealtime, the child-care environment should reflect these important shared learning times. The environment provided for infants and toddlers should be welcoming and responsive to both children and their families. Encourage Pre-schoolers To Explore, Learn A supportive, nurturing, inviting environment for preschool age children is extremely important in encouraging them to explore and learn. Children learn through their own experiences of trial and error, repetition and imitation. Adults may encourage learning by ensuring that the classroom or day-care environment is appropriate and supports an array of experiences and choices. Appropriate Environments Ensure Safe, Healthy Children [Image: girl] One of the most important roles parents and caregivers serve is to ensure that the children entrusted to them thrive in healthy and safe environments. Be Child Care Aware: Can You Recognize Appropriate Toys? [Image: child playing in sand] Parents and grandparents often face the challenge of deciding what toys are appropriate for their children or grandchildren. The same thing is true of child-care providers seeking new toys for their child-care centers.