Licensing Standards for DayCare Centers

Section 418.11
Program Requirements

(a) The day care center must establish written program goals for infants, toddlers, three year olds to kindergarten age, and school-age children for each group of such children in care. These goals must promote a program that includes educational, social, cultural, emotional and recreational development appropriate to the ages and developmental levels of the children.

(b) Program content must reflect the needs and interests of individual children within the group and must incorporate a wide variety of learning experiences, materials and equipment to accommodate children's differences, prior experiences, maturation levels and styles of learning.

(c) The program must provide for experiences, which are designed to influence a positive concept of self, recognizing that a child is a member of a family and an ethnic, racial, cultural and gender subgroup. Based upon the cultural background of the children in receipt of day care, the program must be designed to be multi-cultural and non-sexist by maximizing the strengths and unique experiences of each child's subgroup.

(d) A written daily schedule of program activities and routines which offers reasonable regularity in routines, including snack and meal periods, nap and rest periods, indoor and outdoor activities, and activities which provide children with opportunities for learning and self-expression in small and large groups is required.

(e) Each day care center must provide a sufficient quantity and variety of materials and play equipment appropriate to the age of the children and their developmental levels and interest.

(f) Climbing and large motor apparatus should be available either inside the day care center or in the outdoor play space.

(g) Materials and play equipment used by the children must be of substantial construction and free from rough edges and sharp corners.

(h) Daily supervised outdoor play is required for all children in care, except during inclement weather or unless otherwise ordered by a physician. Parents may request and providers may permit children to remain indoors so long as required staff/child ratios are maintained.

(i) Children must be provided with a program of self-initiated, group-initiated and staff-initiated activities which are intellectually stimulating and foster self-reliance and social responsibility.

(j)

(1) Infants must not be confined but must be permitted freedom of movement and provided with an environment which, permits them to roll, reach, creep and crawl. The environment must offer materials and equipment appropriate to their developmental levels including, but not limited to: soft areas; textural areas; cuddly toys; objects they can explore by mouthing, rolling, squeezing, pulling and pushing; sturdy picture books; unbreakable mirrors; and sturdy furniture. These materials must be available to the children.

(2) Toddlers must not be confined but must be permitted freedom of movement and provided with an environment which allows children to stand, walk, jump, climb, push and pull. The environment must offer materials and equipment appropriate to their developmental levels similar to those required for infants. These materials must be accessible to the children.

(3) For children three years of age and older, each classroom must be divided into specific physical areas where children can develop through active manipulation of materials and interaction with peers and adults. These areas must include, but are not limited to: small motor; blocks; language arts; science; art; quiet; and dramatic play areas.

(l) School-age children must be provided, if desired by the children, an opportunity to study without interruption and without interference from the play of other children.

(m) Appropriate rest and quiet periods must be provided, in accordance with individual and group needs, when a child can sit quietly or lie down to rest. For children unable to sleep, time and space must be provided for quiet play. Children must not be forced to rest for long periods of time.

(n) The day care center must prepare a written self-assessment of its program every other year. Evidence that this has occurred must be submitted on forms furnished by the department with any application to renew the day care center license.

(1) The day care center must have written procedures for conducting a self-assessment of the operation of the day care center. Such written procedures must include information about who will coordinate and conduct the self-assessment, when the self-assessment will be conducted, and which self-assessment instrument will be used as a basis for conducting such self-assessment.

(2) Such self-assessment must be completed by using a self-assessment instrument provided, recommended or approved by the department. The self-assessment must address such topics as health, safety, staffing, discipline, supervision of children, management and administration.

(p) Day care centers must provide a separate program for children six years of age and over to avoid interference with the younger children's programs.

(q) The program activities must not include activities dangerous or injurious to the physical, mental or emotional welfare of children.

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