OCDEL Provides Guidance to Identify Toxic Plants in Child Care Settings

The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has released new guidance on how to identify possibly toxic plants in child care settings.

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Guidance to Identifying Toxic Plants in a Child Care Setting covers policies and procedures that child care providers should adhere to regarding plants. It provides information on:

  • Plant identification

  • How to identify whether a plant is toxic

  • Symptoms of contact with a toxic plant

  • Steps to take if a child encounters a toxic plant

Prior to bringing a new plant to an indoor or outdoor child care or play space, providers should identify the plant and perform research to determine if any part of it is toxic.

According to the announcement, there are more than 700 species of toxic plants in the United States. Many types of plants look similar, so it can be challenging to differentiate between different types. Child care providers with questions about identifying a plant can contact their county extension office.

The new guidance also includes an on-demand webinar for certified child care providers that provides an overview of the announcement.

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