Licensing Standards for DayCare Centers

Section 10:122-6.1
Activities

GEN (a) The center shall develop and provide a variety of children's planned activitiesx "activities:age-appropriate", geared to the age and developmental level of the children served, that:

1. Promote the development of language, thinking and problem-solving skills, curiosity, exploration, large and small muscles, social competence, self-esteem, and positive self-identity; and

2. Are relevant to the cultural background of the children and foster intercultural awareness.

1. Time framesx "activities:time frames" for each activity are geared to the age and developmental level of each child served and are flexible enough to accommodate spontaneous occurrences or children's suggestions and inquiries;

2. Children have opportunities to choose materials freely;

3. Children are presented with and encouraged to participate in a mixture of active and quiet experiences;

4. Both staff-directed and child-selected activities are provided; and

5. Children are:

   i. Encouraged, but not required, to participate in every group activity; and

   ii. Provided with the time and space within the area to be apart from the group and to participate in an alternate activity if they choose to do so.

(d) Centers serving sick children shall comply with the variation on developing and providing children's activities, as specified in N.J.A.C. 10:122-8.5(a).

(e) The staff member(s) specified in (b) above shall prepare and maintain on file a written outline of the center's daily activitiesx "activities:written outline", as specified in (a) through (d) above and (f) and (g) below.

EC (f) For early childhood programsx "early childhood programs:activities for children", the following shall apply:

1. Outdoor experiences shall be provided as follows:

   i. Children who are at the center for more than four consecutive hours shall be taken outdoors daily to an outdoor play areax "outdoor play area:use of", park or playground, or for a walkx "walks".

   ii. Children who are at the center for four or fewer consecutive hours shall be taken outdoors at least once a week to an outdoor play area, park or playground, or for a walk.

   iii. A center may depart from the requirements specified in (f)1i and ii above during inclement weather or for another reason that affects the health, safety or well-being of the children or any individual child.

I/T 2. Centers serving children less than 18 months of age shall provide:

i. At least four of the following types of children's daily activitiesx "infant/toddler programs:activities"x "activities:infant/toddler": sensory; language/dramatic play; manipulative; building; large muscle; music; or other comparable activities; and

ii. At least four types of supplies and/or equipment for each activity area chosen by the center, as listed below:

(1) Sensory activities: crib mobiles; teething toyx "toys:infant/toddler"s; busy boxes; baby mirrors; rattles; melody chimes; squeeze toys; or other comparable supplies or equipment.

(2) Language/dramatic play activities: picture books; toy telephones; records; hand puppets; stuffed animals; soft washable dolls; photographs; or other comparable supplies or equipment.

(3) Manipulative activities: squeeze and grip toys; boxes; sorting and stacking toys; three and/or four piece wooden inlay puzzles; puzzle blocks; simple threading toys; mobile pull toys; balls; or other comparable supplies or equipment.

(4) Building activities: soft lightweight blocks; toy cars, trains and/or boats; figures of animals and people; stacking rings and/or cups; nesting toys; or other comparable supplies or equipment.

(5) Large muscle activities: low climbers; slides; riding/rocking toys; foam or soft plastic balls; gym mats; play tunnels; or other comparable supplies or equipment.

(6) Music activities: rhythm instruments; record player and records; toys equipped with musical tones; musical mobiles and/or busy boxes; drums, xylophones and/or pianos; or other comparable supplies or equipment.

iii. Staff members shall provide periodic activity or learning opportunities to stimulate the five senses of children who are awake and being cared for in cribs, playpens or other Bureau-approved sleeping equipment.

iv. Staff members shall carry non-ambulatory infants around the center periodically.

v. Staff members shall provide all children who are developmentally able with opportunities to leave their cribs, playpens or other Bureau-approved sleeping equipment to crawl, toddle, walk, and play.

EC 3. Centers serving children 18 months of age and older shall provide:

i. At least five of the following types of children's daily activitiesx "activities:early childhood": language; science and mathematics; manipulative; large muscle; building; art; music; drama; or other comparable activities; and

ii. At least five types of supplies and/or equipment for each daily activity chosen by the center, as listed below:

(1) Language activities: books; flannel board; upper and lower case letters; pictures for discussion; materials for recognition, identification and/or classification; poetry; puppets; audio-visual materials; show and tell items; or other comparable supplies or equipment.

(2) Science and math activities: plants and gardening equipment; aquarium with fish and/or other appropriate live animals; water tablex "water table:activities" and supplies; sand table and supplies; cooking supplies; weather chart and/or thermometer; counting equipment; or other comparable supplies or equipment.

(3) Manipulative activities: puzzles; pegs and pegboards; lacing boards; table top building toyx "toys:early childhood"s; stencils; dominoes; pounding bench; lotto games; or other comparable supplies or equipment.

(4) Large muscle activities: rocking boat; wheel toys; climbers; slides; balance beam; barrels and/or large cartons; parachute; balls and beanbags; outdoor play equipmentx "outdoor play area:equipment"; gym mats; or other comparable supplies or equipment.

(5) Building activities: unit blocks (minimum of four sizes); transportation toys; farm animals and/or play people; work bench and tools; table top building toys; building logs; or other comparable supplies or equipment.

(6) Art activities: crayons; tempera paint, large brushes and newsprint; finger paint and finger paint paper; construction paper in assorted colors; paste or glue; blunt scissors; collage materials; non-toxic felt tip markers; easels; clay or playdough; or other comparable supplies or equipment.

(7) Music activities: record player and records; piano and/or organ; guitar; rhythm sticks; drums; cymbals and bells; tape recorder; or other comparable supplies or equipment.

(8) Dramatic activities: toy dishes; ironing board; telephones; occupational props and/or uniforms; dress-up clothes; housekeeping area (stove, sink, refrigerator); cradle or doll bed; doll carriage and dolls; puppets; grocery store, post office or hospital; or other comparable supplies or equipment.

4. Centers that operate during evening hours shall ensure that the activity level for children is reduced in preparation for sleep and shall provide a selection of toys or other materials for quiet activities.

1. Centers shall plan and implement programs that include:

   i. Activitiesx "activities:school-age" that reflect the interests and skills of the children served;

   ii. Opportunities for child involvement in activity planning;

   iii. Opportunities for self-selected activities;

   iv. Recreational opportunities, including a mixture of indoor/outdoor and large muscle activities; and

   v. Daily schedules that include individual quiet times, structured and unstructured activities, and small-group and large-group activities.

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