RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

June 24, 1999
CHILDMINDERS POINT THE WAY FOR SAFETY

CHILD SAFETY WEEK JUNE 21-27

Childminders are being urged to turn their homes into safety action zones so that they can teach children how to avoid accidents.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has published a free booklet for childminders which explains how to pass on safety messages to the youngsters in their care.

RoSPA believes Child Safety Week with its "safety action zone" theme would be the perfect time to begin using the free guide, which has been sponsored by Domestos. It is being distributed by local authorities to 125,000 registered childminders in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

A million children are taken to hospital every year after accidents in the home - about half of them under five.

The guide contains practical suggestions which highlight opportunities for children’s learning through everyday experiences, and aims to encourage childminders to see themselves as a powerful influence and resource in the child’s life.

For example, taking the children out and about is a good time to teach them road safety, trips to the supermarket can be used to teach them the importance of staying close, and messy play at home can highlight the dangers of slips and falls.

Martin Gomberg, RoSPA Safety Education Adviser, said: "Childminders look after children of different ages, at different times of the day, in a home setting. They are ideally placed to give children a grounding in safety education which could benefit them and keep them safe throughout their lives."