As an early childhood educator working during COVID-19 in Alaska, you may be looking for new ways to keep children engaged in safe, summer play while following
state and local physical distancing guidelines.
Many early childhood education programs around the country have developed their own creative methods to follow guidelines while enjoying the summer
months. To help with social distancing at YMCA sites in Arizona, children were taught to make “airplane arms” when standing in line. They also
grouped “pods” of no more than nine children with each adult and developed handwashing activities to ensure kids found some fun in the confusion
of COVID-19. Read more here.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance and suggestions for early educators can help you manage physical distancing with children, including:
- If possible, classes should include the same group each day, and the same child care providers should remain with the same group each day.
- Create a separate classroom for the children of healthcare workers and other first responders.
- Cancel or postpone special events such as festivals, holiday events, and special performances.
- Keep nap time safe by ensuring children’s naptime mats (or cribs) are spaced out as much as possible, ideally 6 feet apart.
- Stagger arrival and drop off times and/or have child care providers come outside the facility to pick up the children as they arrive. Your plan
for curb side drop off and pick up should limit direct contact between parents and staff members and adhere to social distancing recommendations.
Upcoming Training Opportunity
Join thread for a discussion this week on how you can create and setup activities, games and learning environments supporting physical
distancing in your early childhood education program.
Fun in the Sun
Wednesday, July 15
6:30 to 8:30 pm (Zoom Meeting)
FREE!
You can also stay up-to-date on resources for COVID-19 safety protocols in and outside of the classroom on thread’s COVID-19 Early Childhood Education Resource Center.