VLS Foundational Courses were designed to align across tracks, which means a significant portion of each track's content is relevant for all direct care professionals. Crosswalks identify age-specific content, activities, and resources by lesson and can be used by staff members moving between age groups. For example, direct care professionals who move from an infant and toddler classroom to a preschool classroom should consult the Preschool Track to review the age-specific materials that reside in that track. Use this crosswalk as a guide and remember to work with your Training & Curriculum Specialist to help identify any content areas in the VLS where you may need extra review and support to be knowledgeable about best practices for all children in your care. We encourage Training & Curriculum Specialists to consult their Service's guidance regarding how to best use the crosswalk.
Lesson 1Infants & Toddlers Providing a Safe Indoor Environment | Preschool Providing a Safe Environment Indoors and Outdoors | School Age Providing a Safe Environment Indoors and Outdoors |
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Know- Section: Why Heightened Safety Awareness With Infants and Toddlers?
See- Video: Safe Infant Toddler Environments
- Section: Unforeseen Safety Hazards
- Section: Known Safety Hazards
- Video: Preventing Known Safety Hazards
- Section: Hazards in Routine Care
- Section: Toy and Material Hazards
- Section: Recalled Materials
- Section: Choking Hazards
Do- Section: Take an Eye-Level Look
- Activity: Indoor Safety Hazards
Explore- Activity: Indoor Injury Awareness
Apply- Activity: Indoor Safety Checklist
| See- Video: Safe Facilities
- Video: Arranging Your Environment
- Section: Read the characteristics of safe environments, conditions of materials, and outdoor hazard lists.
Do- Section: Before Children Arrive
- Section: When Children are Present
Explore | Know- Section: Safe Indoor Spaces
- Section: Safe Outdoor Spaces
See- Video: Safe Facilities for School-Age Children
- Video: Safe Environments for School-Age Children
- Section: Indoor and Outdoor Conditions
Do- Section: Read this short paragraph about the importance of daily and monthly safety checks.
Explore- Activity: Exploring Safety: Examining Play Spaces
Apply- Activity: Sample Playground Checklist
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Lesson 2Infants & Toddlers Providing a Safe Outdoor Environment | Preschool Providing Safe Toys and Materials | School Age Providing Safe Games and Learning Materials |
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Know- Section: Entire Know section
See- Video: Outdoor Safety Check: Infant Toddler
Do- Section: Entire Do section
Explore- Activity: Outdoor Safety Reflection
Apply- Activity: Safe Outdoor Environments Checklist for Infants and Toddlers
| Know- Section: Entire Know section
- Video: Choosing Toys and Materials
See- Video: Indoor Safety Check Part 1
- Video: Indoor Safety Check Part 2
- Video: Outdoor Safety Check Part 1
- Video: Outdoor Safety Check Part 2
Do- Section: Entire Do section
Apply- Activity: Think Toy Safety
- Activity: Checking for Safety: Toys and Materials
| Know- Section: Entire Know section
See- Video: Providing Safe Materials for School-Age Children
Do- Section: Entire Do section
- Activity: NPTA Video Game Brochure
Apply- Activity: Sample Indoor Checklist
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Lesson 3Infants & Toddlers Promoting Safety Through Ratios and Indoor Supervision Practices | Preschool Maintaining Safe Adult-to-Child Ratios | School Age Maintaining Safe Staff-to-Child Ratios |
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Consult Entire LessonIf you are moving to this track and you have already covered this course in another VLS track, you should still consult this lesson in its entirety because it contains significant, unique content specific to infants and toddlers. | Know- Section: What is a Safe Staff-to-Child Ratio
SeeApply- Activity: CDA Child Care Licensing/Regulation Agency
| Know- Section: What is a Safe Staff-to-Child Ratio?
- Section: How Should Ratios be Maintained During Special Circumstances?
See- Video: Maintaining Accountability
Apply- Activity: Daily Attendance Record
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Lesson 4Infants & Toddlers Promoting Safety Through Ratios and Outdoor Supervision Practices | Preschool Supervision and Accountability Indoors and Outdoors | School-Age Supervision and Accountability Indoors and Outdoors |
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Consult Entire LessonIf you are moving to this track and you have already covered this course in another VLS track, you should still consult this lesson in its entirety because it contains significant, unique content specific to infants and toddlers. | Know- Section: Entire Know section
- Video: Adapted Supervision
See- Video: Supervising for Safety
- Video: Active Supervision
Do- Video: Attendance Procedures
- Video: Maintaining Accountability
Explore- Activity: Active Supervision: What Would You Do?
| Know- Section: Entire Know section
See- Video: Supervision During Arrival and Dismissal
- Video: Active Supervision
- Video: Supervision Outdoors
Do- Activity: Sample Release / Pickup Authorization
Explore- Activity: Supervision: What Would You Do?
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Lesson 5Infants & Toddlers Safe Sleep Practices | Preschool Teaching Safety Rules | School-Age Internet Safety |
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Consult Entire LessonIf you are moving to this track and you have already covered this course in another VLS track, you should still consult this lesson in its entirety because it contains significant, unique content specific to infants and toddlers. | Consult Entire LessonIf you are moving to this track and you have already covered this course in another VLS track, you should still consult this lesson in its entirety because it contains significant, unique content specific to preschool children. | Consult Entire LessonIf you are moving to this track and you have already covered this course in another VLS track, you should still consult this lesson in its entirety because it contains significant, unique content specific to school-age children. |
Lesson 6Infants & Toddlers Child Abuse Prevention, Identification, & Reporting | Preschool Safe Sleep for Preschool Age Children | School-Age Safe Routes to and from School |
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*This lesson is partially aligned with lesson 7 in PS and SA tracks, but has the following age-specific content: See- Video: Child Abuse and Neglect: Infants and Toddlers
- Section: Physical and Behavioral Indicators of Abuse
- Video: Shaken Baby Syndrome
- Video: Common Symptoms of Shaken Baby Syndrome
Explore- Activity: Feelings Surrounding Reporting or Suspected or Known Abuse
Apply- Activity: Reporting Suspected Abuse: Questions to Consider
| Consult Entire LessonIf you are moving to this track and you have already covered this course in another VLS track, you should still consult this lesson in its entirety because it contains significant, unique content specific to preschool children. | Consult Entire LessonIf you are moving to this track and you have already covered this course in another VLS track, you should still consult this lesson in its entirety because it contains significant, unique content specific to school-age children. |
Lesson 7Infants & Toddlers Preparing for Emergencies | Preschool Child Abuse Prevention, Identification, and Reporting | School-Age Child Abuse Prevention, Identification, and Reporting |
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*This lesson is partially aligned with lesson 8 in PS and SA tracks, but has the following age-specific content: See- Video: Preparing for Emergencies with Infants and Toddlers
| *This lesson is partially aligned with lesson 6 in IT and lesson 7 in SA, but has the following age-specific content: See- Video: Reporting Neglect (same as SA)
- Video: Experiences Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (same as SA)
Do- Video: Making the Call (same as SA)
- Video: Problems in Child Development Centers (same as SA)
Explore- Activity: Responding to Abuse In and Out of the Program (same as SA)
Apply- Activity: Preventing Child Abuse in Your Classroom and Center
| *This lesson is partially aligned with lesson 6 in IT and lesson 7 in PS, but has the following age-specific content: See- Video: Reporting Neglect (same as PS)
- Video: Abuse and Neglect at Home, Part 1
- Video: Abuse and Neglect, Part 2 (same as PS)
Do- Video: Making the Call (same as PS)
- Video: Problems in Child Development Centers (same as PS)
Explore- Activity: Responding to Abuse In and Out of the Program (same as PS)
Apply- Activity: Preventing Child Abuse in Your School-Age Program
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Lesson 8Infants & Toddlers Responding to Injuries | Preschool Preparing for Emergencies | School-Age Preparing for Emergencies |
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No Action RequiredIf you are moving to this track and you have already covered this course in another track in the VLS, you may skip this lesson as it is aligned with PS and SA lesson 9. | *This lesson is partially aligned with lesson 7 in IT and lesson 8 in SA, but has the following age-specific content: See- Video: Talking to Children about Emergencies
| *This lesson is partially aligned with lesson 7 in IT and lesson 8 in PS, but has the following age-specific content: See- Video: Preparing for Emergencies
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Lesson 9Infants & Toddlers | Preschool Responding to Injuries | School-Age Responding to Injuries |
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| *Lesson 9 does not exist for Infant & Toddler Safe Environments. IT lesson 8 Responding to Injuries matches lesson 9 for PS and SA. | No Action RequiredIf you are moving to this track and you have already covered this course in another track in the VLS, you may skip this lesson as it is aligned with IT lesson 8, and SA lesson 9. | No Action RequiredIf you are moving to this track and you have already covered this course in another track in the VLS, you may skip this lesson as it is aligned with IT lesson 8, and PS lesson 9. |
Lesson 10Infants & Toddlers | Preschool Special Considerations for Trips Away From Your Program | School-Age Special Considerations for Trips Away From Your Program |
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| *Lesson 10 does not exist for Infants & Toddlers Safe Environments. | Special NoteThis lesson is aligned with SA track (lesson 10) and not present in the IT track. If you’re moving from SA to this track, you can skip this lesson. If you are moving from IT to this track, you should consult this lesson in its entirety. | Special NoteThis lesson is aligned with PS track (lesson 10) and not present in the IT track. If you’re moving from PS to this track, you can skip this lesson. If you are moving from IT to this track, you should consult this lesson in its entirety. |
Lesson 11Infants & Toddlers | Preschool Vehicle Safety | School-Age Vehicle Safety |
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| *Lesson 11 does not exist for Infant & Toddler Safe Environments. | Special NoteThis lesson is aligned with SA track (lesson 11) and not present in the IT track. If you’re moving from SA to this track, you can skip this lesson. If you are moving from IT to this track, you should consult this lesson in its entirety. | Special NoteThis lesson is aligned with PS track (lesson 11) and not present in the IT track. If you’re moving from PS to this track, you can skip this lesson. If you are moving from IT to this track, you should consult this lesson in its entirety. |
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Safe Environments
Crosswalk