The VLS Foundational Content was designed to align across tracks which means a significant portion of each track's content is relevant for all direct care professionals. This document identifies unique age-specific content, activities, and resources by lesson and can be used as a guide to review material if a staff member moves to care for a new age-group. For example, direct care professionals who move from an infant and toddler classroom to a preschool classroom should consult the Preschool track to be aware of age-specific material that resides in that track. Use this document as a guide and remember to work with your Training & Curriculum Specialist to help identify 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 1Infant Toddler 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- 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: Arranging Your Environment
Do- Section: Before Children Arrive
- Section: When Children are Present
Explore- Activity: Play Spaces Activity Suggested Responses
| Know- Section: Safe Outdoor Spaces
See- Video: Safe Environments for School-Age Children
Do- Section: Read this short paragraph about the importance of daily and monthly safety checks.
Explore- Activity: Exploring Safety: Examining Play Spaces
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Lesson 2Infant Toddler 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 Injury Awareness Worksheet
Apply- Activity: Outdoor Checklist
| Know- Section: Entire Know section
See- Video: Choosing Toys and Materials
Do- Video: Indoor Safety Check Part 1
- Video: Indoor Safety Check Part 2
- Video: Outdoor Safety Check Part 1
- Video: Outdoor Safety Check Part 2
- Activity: Think Toy Safety
- Activity: Checking for Safety
| Know- Section: Entire Know section
See- Video: Providing Safe Materials for School-Age Children
- Numbered List: Choosing Safe Games and Learning Materials for School-Age Children
Do- Activity: NPTA Video Game Brochure
Apply- Activity: Sample Indoor Checklist
- Activity: Sample Playground Checklist
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Lesson 3Infant Toddler 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
See | 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 4Infant Toddler Promoting Safety Through Ratios and Outdoor Supervision Practices | Preschool Promoting Safety Through Ratios and Outdoor Supervision Practices | 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
See- Video: Supervising for Safety
- Video: Active Supervision
Do- Video: Attendance Procedures
- Video: Maintaining Accountability
- Video: Adapted Supervision
Explore- Activity: Active Supervision Activity
| Know- Section: Entire Know section
See- Video: Supervision during Arrival and Dismissal
- Section: Supervising Children Indoors
- Video: Active Supervision
- Video: Supervision Outdoors
Do- Activity: Sample Release / Pickup Authorization
Explore- Activity: Supervision: What Would You Do?
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Lesson 5Infant Toddler 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 this age group. | 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 this age group. | 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 this age group. |
Lesson 6Infant Toddler 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
Do- Section: Preventing Abuse
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 this age group. | 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 this age group. |
Lesson 7Infant Toddler Preparing for Emergencies | Preschool Child Abuse Prevention, Identification, & Reporting | School-Age Child Abuse Prevention, Identification, & 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: Explore- Activity: Responding to Abuse Inside the Program
| *This lesson is partially aligned with lesson 6 in IT and lesson 7 in PS, but has the following age-specific content: Do- Video: Abuse and Neglect at Home, Part 1
Explore- Activity: What if…Suspecting Child Abuse or Neglect in a Child Development Program
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Lesson 8Infant Toddler Responding to Injuries | Preschool Preparing for Emergencies | School-Age Preparing for Emergencies |
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| *This lesson is partially aligned with lesson 9 in PS and SA tracks. | *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 9Infant Toddler - | 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 10Infant Toddler - | 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 Infant & Toddler Safe Environments. | Special NoteThis course 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 course 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 11Infant Toddler - | Preschool Vehicle Safety | School-Age Vehicle Safety |
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| *Lesson 11 does not exist for Infant & Toddler Safe Environments. | Special NoteThis course 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 course 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