Offering Childcare at Your Health and Fitness Studio? Childcare Safety Tips You Should Consider

Children Playing with Toys

Many fitness centers, gyms and health studios enhance their member experience by offering short-term childcare services while parents or guardians work out. Typically limited to two hours or less, these services are often exempt from certain licensing requirements. However, they can introduce unique risk exposures that should not be overlooked.

Claims related to these services are not uncommon, making it essential for health and fitness studio owners and managers to proactively implement risk control strategies. Doing so can not only help protect young guests but also reduce the potential for costly liability claims, helping protect both your organization’s reputation and bottom line. It is important to work with your insurance broker or carrier to help ensure you have proper coverage for your exposures and to take proactive steps to help manage your risks.

Top Tips for Managing Childcare Risks Effectively

By focusing on key areas such as facility setup, supervision, staff training and recordkeeping, studios can implement consistent practices that support child safety and help reduce the risk of incidents that could lead to liability claims.

Designing and Maintaining a Secure Facility

The physical environment plays a crucial role in supporting children's safety and comfort. When setting up or evaluating your childcare space, keep the following considerations in mind:

Make sure your childcare area is suitable for the children you are supervising. Facilities should be safe, sanitary and age appropriate. If special facilities are provided (bouncers, slides, etc.), make sure they are suitable.
If infants and toddlers are watched, ensure that toys and play items do not pose choking hazards. Secure furnishings that could topple, and make sure electrical receptacles are childproof.
Utilize half-walls or large windows to facilitate surveillance.

Setting Strong Supervision Standards

Children require attentive and consistent supervision to stay safe. The following measures can help support effective oversight and prevent incidents:

Ensure that staffing meets the required supervision ratios. Crosstrain and qualify managers and front desk supervisors to provide additional coverage if needed.
Appropriately placed surveillance cameras with footage retention are helpful tools. Some commercially available systems permit parents to view a live feed when their children are being watched.
Physically separate age groups insofar as possible.

Establishing Clear Policies and Employee Training Protocols

Well-defined policies and comprehensive staff training are key to delivering safe, consistent care. These practices help establish clear expectations and promote accountability:

Anyone supervising children should be screened and qualified using a national criminal background check service prior to working with children, and records should be permanently retained.
Employees should be trained in emergency procedures including first aid/CPR.
Establish play rules to avoid rough housing and/or risky play.
Clearly define appropriate and inappropriate interactions for staff supervision and amongst children.
If toileting or diapering is needed, have suitable private facilities, and create protocols to manage this, or have a procedure to dispatch the guardian for assistance.

Implementing Reliable Recordkeeping Procedures

Strong recordkeeping can support transparency, safety and communication with families. Consider how these documentation practices can help you stay organized and responsive:

Utilize detailed intake forms and keep complete records for the children in your care. Make sure supervising employees are familiar with any special circumstances.
Establish sign-in/sign-out procedures. Consider software to assist in documenting information collected, including parent and guardian information.
Document and retain records of any injuries or unusual incidents.

Additional Resources for Studio Owners and Managers

As a valued policyholder, you have access to a discounted background check through Intellicorp. In addition, we offer risk management resources—including articles focused on Child Safety and Policies and Procedures to Help Prevent Abuse.

We’re Here to Help – Contact Our Loss Control Consultants Today

At Great American Insurance Group, we strive to ensure that our policyholders are not only aware of the hazards they face but are equipped with the necessary tools to prevent and combat them as effectively as possible. Interested in learning more? Talk to our team of experts.

For additional information on improving your organization’s safety and security, visit the Plan & Protect Hub.