REDDAM EARLY LEARNING SCHOOL WOOLLAHRA NEWSLETTER
Dee’s Message Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Whether as parents or teachers, we do all we can to keep our children safe, especially by providing environments in which they can grow and explore safely. The Early Years Learning Framework mentions the words ‘safe’ and ‘safety’ several times, in an acknowledgement that when children feel safe they are more likely to develop their personalities and skills in the best possible way. The EYLF mentions that by providing “predictable and safe environments”, it means that children are able to “approach safe situations with confidence”. And ultimately this is what we all hope for – that the children will grow in confidence and will develop their own unique individuality “and become mindful of their own and others’ safety.” However, as we all know only too well, we are not able to wrap our children in cotton wool at all times – not now nor in the future as they grow older. They will face situations
11 November 2022 which are potentially risky, yet it is often in assessing and then overcoming these risks that they will grow. Being able to weigh up the potential risks in a situation is a critical skill which all children must develop. A recent article makes a useful distinction between hazards and risks. It points out that “A hazard is something that might cause harm. We tend to think of more obvious examples like an uncovered pond or trailing cables, but behaviours like bullying or neglect can also be classed as hazards. Risk, on the other hand, is about probability and consequence – it’s the chance, high or low, that someone will actually be harmed by a hazard.” The article goes on to remind us that “we know that activities like climbing, tool use and fire have a higher level of risk but help children learn about their environment and their own capabilities. The risk of serious injury is evident, but the benefits are also clear. As long as there are clearly explained safety rules, modelling and supervision, children can be fully involved.
REDDAM EARLY LEARNING SCHOOL | WOOLLAHRA NEWSLETTER
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