Matchbox Children’s Theatre implements policies and procedures to ensure all children are actively supervised at all times, ensuring all staff is familiar and trained on these requirements. 

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Active Supervision - Health and Safety Procedure 

1. MCT ensures that all staff, interns and volunteers abide by the program's standards of conduct. 

a. Respect and promote the unique identity of each child and family and refrain from stereotyping on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, culture, religion, disability or sexual orientation. 

b. Follow programs confidentiality policies concerning information about children, families and other staff members. 

c. No child will be left alone or unsupervised while under MCT care. 

d. Use positive methods of child guidance and will not engage in corporal punishment, emotional or physical abuse or humiliation. In addition, they will not employ methods of discipline that involve isolation, the use of food as 

punishment or reward, or the denial of basic needs. 

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2. Appropriate discipline for staff, interns, and volunteers will be addressed individually for those who violate the Standards of Conduct. 

 

3. Active Supervision will be utilized by all MCT staff- this requires focused attention and intentional observation of children at all times, utilizing constant vigilance to help children learn safely. 

a. Set up the Environment- Set up the environment to enable supervision of children at all times.

Ensure that: furniture is at waist height or shorter, adults are always able to see and hear children, small spaces are kept clutter free, and big spaces are set up so that children have clear play spaces the staff can observe. 

b. Position Staff- Carefully plan where staff will position themselves in the environment to prevent children from harm. They place themselves so that they can see and hear all of the children in their care. They make sure there are always clear paths to where children are playing, sleeping and eating so they can react quickly when necessary. Staff stays close to children who may need additional support. 

c. Scan and count- Always be able to account for each child. Continually scan the entire environment to know where everyone is and what they are doing. Count the children frequently, especially during transition/dismissal times. 

d. Listen- Specific sounds or absence of them may signify reason for concern. Listening closely to children to help immediately identify signs of potential danger.

e. Anticipate Children’s Behavior- Use what you know about each child’s individual interests and skills to predict what he/she will do. Recognize when children might wander, get upset, or take a dangerous risk. Information that parents provide about each child informs staff observation and helps them

anticipate children’s behavior. Staff who know what to expect are better able to protect children from harm. 

f. Engage and Redirect- Use active supervision skills to know when to offer children support. Offer different levels of assistance or redirection depending on each individual child’s needs.