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Confusion over preschool playground SA国际影视传媒榖anSA国际影视传媒 for daycares

Daycare operators have been left scratching their heads due to the Department of Education, Culture and EmploymentSA国际影视传媒檚 (ECE) proposal to ban the use of outdoor playground equipment during the winter.
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Shelley Kapraelian, director of early learning and childcare with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE), acknowledged that a letter sent out on Nov. 24 telling daycare operators to refrain from using outdoor playground equipment in winter led to a misunderstanding. Kaicheng Xin/NNSL photo

Daycare operators have been left scratching their heads due to the Department of Education, Culture and EmploymentSA国际影视传媒檚 (ECE) proposal to ban the use of outdoor playground equipment during the winter.

However, during an interview, a department director said it was not a ban, but a recommendation and a reminder.

The proposal came with neither a warning nor consultation beforehand, according to the NWT Early Childhood Association (NWTECA).

ECE had written a letter to all early learning and child-care operators on Nov. 24, requiring licensed operators to refrain from using playground equipment for the duration of the winter to lessen the likelihood of injuries to children during outdoor play.

The letter was signed by Shelley Kapraelian, ECESA国际影视传媒檚 director for early learning and child care.

In an interview with Kapraelian about the letter, she said itSA国际影视传媒檚 not about banning the use of equipment, but recommending that the playground equipment not be used if it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 meet the manufacturersSA国际影视传媒 requirements and instructions.

She said there will be a follow-up letter to clarify safety at all times.

When Yellowknifer pointed out that what she said was contradicting what the letter stated, Kapraelian said the letter was meant to remind program operators itSA国际影视传媒檚 their responsibility to follow instructions for playground equipment and in the winter, itSA国际影视传媒檚 important to often check that equipment surfaces are still safe for use.

Kapraelian said the reason why the letter only mentioned licensed daycares, but not schools, was because of a difference in legislation.

SA国际影视传媒淎s a director for early childhood, I was communicating around whatSA国际影视传媒檚 related to the Early Childhood Daycare Act, and schools are under the Education Act,SA国际影视传媒 she explained. SA国际影视传媒淭hat separates (the two) and it was under the authorities of district education authorities and superintendents, so there was no impact on the use of equipment on the playground at schools from ECE.SA国际影视传媒

No warning or consultation beforehand

In the original letter dated Nov. 24, Kapraelian stated that SA国际影视传媒淪A国际影视传媒 fixed playground equipment like climbers, slides, and monkey bars rely on proper surfacing materials such as sand, rubber surfacing, wood chips etc. to protect children when using them. When the ground is frozen, and/or snow covered, the capacity of these materials to protect children from injury is limited. Children are also required to be dressed in outdoor clothing such as snow pants, scarves, and mittens that limit their typical capacity to use this equipment safely.SA国际影视传媒

In response, Patricia Davison, chair of the NWTECA, said it was a dramatic move, one which came with no warning.

SA国际影视传媒淲e believe requiring licensed operators to refrain from using playground equipment for the duration of the winter season is detrimental to childrenSA国际影视传媒檚 development,SA国际影视传媒 she said. SA国际影视传媒淚t doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 really specify the type of playground equipment, what they mean by the winter season SA国际影视传媒 I mean, we have eight to 10 months of winter.SA国际影视传媒

Davison sent a letter back with concerns about how ECE approaches were not really thoughtful and she feels like there were still a lot of the things that needed to happen before the correspondence was circulated.

In the response letter, Davison suggested that ECE implied that daycare operators were unable to keep children safe and, if so, there was a solution: training in risk benefit analysis.

SA国际影视传媒淩isk benefit analysis is a process that examines the potential play experience to determine if the action occurs, what the chance and level of injury may be,SA国际影视传媒 she said.

The letter to ECE also addressed that to refrain from using playground equipment can be detrimental to childrenSA国际影视传媒檚 development. The association had pointed out promising practices in early childhood cite the importance of risky play to holistic child development.

Davison said ECE did not respond to the suggestions that NWTECA provided.

Rylund Johnson, MLA for Yellowknife North, said he was not in agreement with ECESA国际影视传媒檚 approach.

SA国际影视传媒淚 guess ISA国际影视传媒榤 just really confused where is this coming from and why, all of sudden, this had become a decision to be made,SA国际影视传媒 he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e, in our schools, have tried really hard to introduce more aspects of outdoor play, on-the-land learning, getting kids to use tools and equipment that they donSA国际影视传媒檛 get down south SA国际影视传媒 itSA国际影视传媒檚 something that we should be proud of.

SA国际影视传媒淎ll of a sudden, for Northern jurisdictions to say, SA国际影视传媒極h, donSA国际影视传媒檛 use playgrounds in the winter is just insane. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 winter here more than half a year.SA国际影视传媒

Kapraelian said based on the fact there was miscommunication, she will follow up to make sure that the intent of the letter was to remind everyone about the importance of safety in winter months and to address anything that may have been misunderstood in the initial letter.



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