Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death and hospitalization in children under the age of six. Young children grow and develop quickly. How they move, learn, and think is always changing. With each new stage of development comes a new challenge for parents and caregivers. Supervision and safety proofing will help reduce the likelihood of an injury.

Hold, Follow, Watch: A New Look at Supervision

 There is more than one way for parents or caregivers to supervise children – you can hold, follow, or watch.

Hold: Touch or hold the child.

Follow: Stay close to the child – physically be within arm’s reach of the child at all times.

Watch: This means more than seeing. Pay attention to what the child is doing. Teach the child safety rules, remind the child of the rules, and watch the child to make sure the child is following the rules.

How to Use Hold, Follow, Watch

 All children are unique. The way you need to supervise one child may be different from the way you need to supervise another child. Some children act differently when they are in new situations, when they are with different caregivers, or when they are playing with other children. The main question parents or caregivers need to ask themselves is, “Right now, how do I keep this child, in this situation safe from an injury - do I need to hold, follow or watch?” To answer this question parents and caregivers need to consider the following five areas:

1. What is the child able to do right now (e.g., roll, crawl, walk, run, climb, turn door knobs)?

2. How active is the child?

3. How impulsive is the child – does s/he think before acting?

4. How well does the child follow requests and rules?

5. How safe is the environment?

For more information or a free booklet on Hold, Follow, Watch call 519-258-2146 x 1350.

Key References:

Safe Kids Canada. (2006).Child and youth unintentional injury: 10 years in review 1994-2003.Retrieved November 20, 2006, from http://www.sickkids.ca/SKCForPartners/custom/SKW06Nation alReportENG.pdf

Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.(2006).Falls prevention: Hold, Follow, Watch (Children aged 0-6 years).Windsor,ON.