Next Steps: Ideas to Extend Practice

Participants working independently or with other staff can build on the skills developed through this guide by completing activities such as the following ones. Some of the activities can contribute to the participants' professional portfolios.

Conduct Regular Safety Checks

Some Head Start programs operate in spaces that were not designed for children to use. Others are fortunate enough to be housed in spaces designed just for them. Regardless of the setting, it is crucial for staff to conduct regular safety checks to make sure the indoor and outdoor environments are free of hazards that could cause children to have accidents. This is particularly important when children use a playground that the community maintains, rather than an area maintained by Head Start.

Develop indoor and outdoor safety checklists and establish a schedule for conducting daily and monthly safety checks in classrooms at centers and group socialization sites. Several resources listed at the end of this guide include checklists that can be adapted to meet your program's needs.

Possible Portfolio Entry: The safety checklist, schedule for using it, and a summary of safety hazards found and how they were addressed

Offer a Parent Workshop

Offer a workshop for parents on using items found in the home as play materials and making new toys from recycled materials. Distribute and discuss the master list of selection criteria created by participants in
Activity 2-2. Reassure parents that the cost of a toy has nothing to do with whether it will encourage a child's development.

Possible Portfolio Entry: Photographs of play materials made in the workshop

Observe Children Outdoors

Conduct a series of observations of children using the outdoor environment. Note how children's use of materials and equipment and the overall features of the outdoor play area encourage development in the four domains: physical, cognitive, social, and emotional.

If the opportunities seem out of balance (for example, many encourage physical development and few encourage cognitive development), plan ways to adapt the environment so children, including those with disabilities, have more opportunities to use a variety of skills during outdoor play. For example, bring some indoor materials outdoors to offer more varied experiences or activities.

Possible Portfolio Entry: Summary of adaptations to the environment or activities that encourage children's development in the four domains

Establish a Toy-Lending Library

Work with a community group such as a library, children's museum, or service organization to establish a toy-lending library. Involve parents in planning, operating, and evaluating the toy-lending program.

Possible Portfolio Entry: Brochure announcing the opening of the library or inventory list of items available on loan