Did you know that the average adult spends almost 7 hours exposed to a screen nowadays? What's even more alarming is that the average screen time has increased by 50 minutes since 2013. While the children at your daycare center shouldn't be allowed to use cell phones during class unless there is an emergency, you also need to be aware of how much time your teachers and staff are spending on their phones.
As a director or manager at a daycare center, creating proper guidelines for your staff should be as important as coming up with a school curriculum for the kids. Read on to learn how to create guidelines for cell phone usage at your daycare center.
Importance of Having a Cell Phone Policy
When it comes to managing a daycare center, technology can be a valuable asset to utilize. Therefore, completely banning them from the classroom wouldn't be a good strategy. Besides, most people don't leave their bedrooms without their cell phones and may experience phantom phone vibrations if they go too long without checking their phones. So there's a low chance such rules would be followed.
On the other hand, spending too much time on one's cell phone can significantly affect productivity. Therefore, it is necessary to find a middle ground.
Another thing to keep in mind is that children mirror the behaviors of adults in their early formative years. So if their teachers or educators are constantly checking their phones, the children will likely pick up on the habit and eventually start mimicking it.
But do we want the kids to be exposed to this behavior? No. Instead, they need to be encouraged to explore the physical environment so they can play, learn, and grow. While technology can be used to support their development, it must be done in a mindful and moderate manner.
By reducing the screen time of the staff, you can ensure that the teachers would be focused on providing care to the children without getting distracted every few minutes. Not only would this promote a better learning environment, but it can also save the kids from some potentially dangerous situations that they can get themselves into.
How to Create a Cell Phone Policy
When creating a cell phone policy for your daycare staff, it is crucial to practice moderation and transparency. You don't want the staff to feel like they're being punished or 'disciplined for bad behavior.' Instead, you want them to understand the importance of reducing screen time. Therefore, you want guidelines that are beneficial for the teachers as well as the students.
Following are some things you must consider while putting together your cell phone policy.
· The use of cell phones for personal interests must not be permitted in classrooms during work hours.
· However, the staff must be allowed to use the phone for personal reasons outside the classroom and during approved breaks. In case of emergencies, they must be allowed to excuse themselves from the class and go outside to answer a call.
· If the teacher is leaving the daycare center premises with the child - either due to an emergency or a field trip - they must carry their cell phones with them.
· In case there is an event or a field trip, and the staff wants to take pictures of the kids, they must obtain written permission from the parents or guardians of each of the students. No pictures - whether by cell phone or by a camera - must be taken without explicit permission.
· Make sure that the parents and guardians are aware of the data privacy and security policy of the daycare center prior to taking any pictures of the children.
By implementing these guidelines, you can ensure that the staff, as well as the students, make the most out of the time they spend at the daycare center. And remember to inform the entire staff is aware of these guidelines in advance.