Buttons & Bows

Rule .33(5)(b)(2)(i)-(iv) - New - Annual Training - Child Development and/or Health & Safety Topics: 2. At least two (2) hours in on-going child development and health and safety related topics, which could include, but not be limited to: (i) Child development (e.g., developmental domains (cognitive; social and emotional; physical development and motor skills; communication, language, and literacy; approaches to play and learning), discipline and guidance techniques, children with special needs); (ii) Health (e.g., nutrition and the support of breast feeding, physical activity, prevention and control of illnesses and infectious diseases, immunizations, prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions, cleanliness, sanitation, and the appropriate disposal of bio contaminants); (iii) Safety (e.g., prevention of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) which includes Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and the use of safe sleeping practices, medication administration, injury control and prevention, transportation, handling and storage of hazardous materials, identification of and protection from hazards that can cause bodily injury such as electrical hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic, and emergency preparedness planning and response); (iv) Child abuse and neglect (e.g., identification and reporting, meeting the needs of abused and/or neglected children, prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma and child maltreatment).

Rule .33(5)(b)1. - New - Annual Training - Language & Literacy

Rule .33(5)(a) - New - Staff training-annual/10 hours: (a) Every calendar year after the first year of employment, all supervisory and caregiver Personnel, except independent contractors, Students-in-Training and volunteers, shall attend ten (10) clock hours of diverse training which is offered by an accredited college, university or vocational program or other Department-approved source.

Rule .30(4) - Cots and Mats Storage (Recite-Not Met): (4) Storage. If cots and mats are stored in the children's activity room or area, they shall be stored to prevent children's access to them and to allow maximum use of play space. When storage is available and used for the storage of cots and mats that allows the cots, mats and any bedding to be stored without touching any other cots, mats or bedding, the bedding may be left on the cot or mat. When such storage is not available for the cots and mats, each child’s bedding shall be kept separate from other children’s bedding and stored in containers marked for individual use, such as, but not limited to, bins, cubbies, or bags.

Rule .21(1)(a-o) - Policies and Procedures-Contents: (1) The policies and procedures shall include the following: (a) A description of services to be provided which specifies the ages of children to be served, days and times of operations and days and times that the Center is closed; (b) A description of enrollment and admission requirements which specifies the Parents' responsibilities for supplying needed information to the Center and escorting the child to and from the Center; (c) A fee and payment schedule that specifies the standard fees, fees related to absences and vacations and other charges and fees such as transportation and late fees; (d) A description of the Center's transportation and field trip services (see rule .36 about transportation requirements); (e) A description of handling administration of medication (see rule .20 about medications), and notifying Parent(s) of noticeable adverse reactions to prescribed medications; (f) A description of parental notification in cases of illnesses and injury and exclusion of sick children (see rule .07 about children's health); (g) A description of parental notification when a notifiable communicable disease is present (see rule .07 about children's health); (h) A description of handling medical emergencies (see rule .07 about children's health); (i) A description of meals and snacks served, including guidelines for food brought from the child's home; (j) Permission for access by the child's Parent(s) to all Center areas used by the child (see rule .22 about parental access); (k) Child abuse reporting law requirements; (l) A description of behavior management and discipline actions used by the Center; to include the program's practices regarding the expulsion and suspension of children enrolled for care; to include the program's practices regarding the expulsion and suspension of children enrolled for care. (m) Nondiscrimination statement; (n) Center sponsored religious and cultural activities, if any; (o) If licensed for the care of an infant or toddler: Center’s diapering procedures, Center’s toilet training procedures, and Center’s feeding procedures;

Rule .12(2) - Equipment/Furniture-not hazardous/clean (Recite-Not Met): (2) Equipment and Furniture. Equipment and furniture shall be free from hazardous conditions such as, but not limited to, sharp rough edges or toxic paint and shall be kept clean.

Rule .07(5) - Pacifiers and other attachments around neck: (5) Hazardous Items. Children shall not be permitted to wear around their necks or attach to their clothing pacifiers or other hazardous items.

Rule .03(2) - Lesson Plans/ Equipment/Materials (Recite-Not Met): (2) Current lesson plans shall be kept on site and reflect appropriate instruction practices and activities to support children’s development. The center shall have sufficient and varied play and learning equipment and materials to support the above program of activities in all developmental areas.

Rule .32(7) - Supervision-Watchful Oversight: (7) Supervision. Children shall be supervised at all times appropriate to the individual age, needs and capabilities of each child. Such supervision must include, but not be limited to, indoor and outdoor activities, mealtimes, naptime, transportation, field trips, and transitions between activities. "Supervision" means that the appropriate number of Staff members are physically present in the area where children are being cared for and are providing watchful oversight to the children, volunteers and Students-in-Training. The persons supervising in the child care area must be alert, positioned to maximize their ability to hear and see the children at all times, and able to respond promptly to the needs and actions of the children being supervised, as well as the actions of the volunteers and Students-in-Training, and provide timely attention to the children's actions and needs. Staff shall be attentive and participating with all children during mealtimes and shall be seated within an arm’s length away from children thirty-six (36) months of age and younger.

Rule .30(2)(c) - Sleep in safety-approved cribs: (c) Infants shall not sleep in equipment other than safety-approved cribs, such as, but not limited to, a car safety seat, bouncy seat, highchair, or swing. Infants who arrive at the Center asleep or fall asleep in such equipment, on the floor or elsewhere, shall be transferred to a safety-approved crib.

Rule .33(3) - Staff Training-Health and Safety Orientation

Rule .30(4) - Cots and Mats Storage: (4) Storage. If cots and mats are stored in the children's activity room or area, they shall be stored to prevent children's access to them and to allow maximum use of play space. When storage is available and used for the storage of cots and mats that allows the cots, mats and any bedding to be stored without touching any other cots, mats or bedding, the bedding may be left on the cot or mat. When such storage is not available for the cots and mats, each child’s bedding shall be kept separate from other children’s bedding and stored in containers marked for individual use, such as, but not limited to, bins, cubbies, or bags.

Rule .27 - Posted Notices: Each Center shall post in a designated area for public viewing near the front entrance the following: the Center's current License or Permit; a copy of these rules; a copy of the current communicable disease chart; a statement allowing Parent(s) access to all child care areas upon notifying any staff member of his or her presence; names of persons responsible for the administration of the Center in the administrator's absence; the dated current week's menu for meals and snacks; emergency plans for severe weather, fire, and other emergency situations; a statement requiring visitors to check in with Staff when entering the Center; no smoking signs; and a notice provided by the Department which advises Parents of their right to review a copy of the Center's most recent licensure evaluation report upon request to the Center Director. The Center shall provide any Parent with a copy of this evaluation report upon request.

Rule .25(8) - Outlets: (8) Electrical Outlets. Except in School-age Centers, all unused electrical outlets within reach of children shall have protective caps specifically designed to prohibit children from placing anything in the receptacle. Electrical outlets in use which the children can reach shall be made inaccessible to the children.

Rule .25(3) - Clean, free of debris, good repair: (3) Cleanliness. The Center and surrounding premises shall be kept clean, free of debris and in good repair. Hygienic measures such as, but not limited to, screened windows and proper waste disposal procedures shall be utilized to minimize the presence of rodents, flies, roaches and other vermin at the Center.

Rule .25(13) - Indoor Storage-Hazards: (13) Indoor Storage Areas. Potentially hazardous equipment, materials and supplies shall be stored in a locked area inaccessible to children. Examples of items to be stored include non-food related products under pressure in aerosol dispensing cans, flammable and corrosive materials, cleaning supplies, poisons, insecticides, office supplies and industrial-sized or commercial buckets with a capacity of three gallons or more or any other similar device with rigid sides which would not tip over if a toddler fell into the container head first.

Rule .21(3) - Fire/Tornado Drills: (3) The Center shall conduct drills for fire, tornado and other emergency situations. The fire drills will be conducted monthly and tornado and other emergency situation drills will be conducted every six months. The Center shall maintain documentation of the dates and times of these drills for two years.

Rule .18(7) - Storage Areas, containers: (7) Storage Areas. Each Center shall have a designated space for storage of food and kitchen items. The area shall be kept clean and free of accumulation of dust, dirt, food particles and grease deposits.

Rule .18(5) - Refrigeration: (5) Refrigeration. All perishable and potentially hazardous foods shall be refrigerated at a temperature of forty (40) degrees Fahrenheit or below and served promptly after cooking. Freezer temperature shall be maintained at zero (0) degrees Fahrenheit or below.

Rule .18(2) - Food prep area: (2) Food Preparation Areas. Each Center shall have a designated space for food preparation separate from rooms used by children and in an area not used for diaper changing. The area shall be kept clean and free of accumulation of dust, dirt, food particles and grease deposits. Food preparation surface areas shall be nonporous with no unsealed cracks or seams.

Rule .17(7) - Handwashing-Children: (7) Handwashing, Children. Children's hands shall be washed with soap and warm running water: immediately upon arrival for care; when moving from one child care group to another, and upon re-entering the child care area after outside play; before and after eating meals and snacks, handling or touching food, or playing in water; after toileting and diapering, playing in sand, touching animals or pets, and contact with bodily fluids such as, but not limited to, mucus, saliva, vomit or blood; and after contamination by any other means.

Rule .12(2) - Equipment/Furniture-not hazardous/clean: (2) Equipment and Furniture. Equipment and furniture shall be free from hazardous conditions such as, but not limited to, sharp rough edges or toxic paint and shall be kept clean.

Rule .08(1) - Childrens Enrollment Application: (1) A Center must maintain a file for each child while such child is in care at the Center and for a period of one (1) year after such child is no longer in care at the Center. In order for the file to be complete, the file shall contain the following: identifying information about the child to include: name, date of birth, sex, address, living arrangement if not with both Parents, name of school, if applicable; identifying information about the Parent(s) to include: names of both Parents, if applicable, home and work addresses, and home and work telephone numbers; name(s) and addresses of the person(s) to whom the child may be released. Such information shall contain the authorized person’s address, telephone numbers, relationship to child and to Parent(s), and other identifying information; identifying information about the person(s) to contact in emergencies when the Parent cannot be reached to include name(s) and telephone number(s); identifying information about the child's primary source of health care to include physician's or clinic's name and telephone number; and a statement regarding known allergies or other physical problems, mental health disorders, intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities which would limit the child's participation in the Center's program and activities.

Rule .06(7) - Disinfect bathroom daily: (7) Cleanliness. Bathrooms shall be cleaned daily with a disinfectant.

Rule .06(1) - Required number of toilets and sinks: (1) Required Facilities. Flush toilets and hand washing sinks with running water shall be provided in the following minimum ratios for the use of all children: Number of Children Toilets and Sinks * 1-12 1 13-25 2 26-50 3 51-75 4 76-100 5 101-125 6 126-150 7 151-175 8 Each additional group of twenty-five (25) children shall require one (1) additional toilet and sink. * For children being potty-trained, at least one (1) flush toilet shall be provided. If used, nursery potty chairs may not be substituted for a required flush toilet.

Rule .03(2) - Lesson Plans/ Equipment/Materials: (2) Current lesson plans shall be kept on site and reflect appropriate instruction practices and activities to support children’s development. The center shall have sufficient and varied play and learning equipment and materials to support the above program of activities in all developmental areas.

Rule .30(1)(d) - Arrangement of sleeping and resting equipment: (d) Arrangement of Sleeping and Resting Equipment. All sleeping and resting equipment shall be arranged to avoid obstructing access to exit doors, to provide the caregivers access to each child, and to prevent children's access to cords hanging from window treatments and other hazardous objects. To reduce the transfer of airborne diseases, sleeping and resting equipment shall be arranged as follows. There shall be a minimum of twenty-four inch (24") corridor between each row of sleeping or resting equipment. There shall be a minimum of twelve inches (12") between each piece of sleeping or resting equipment in each row of equipment. Children shall be placed on cots and mats so that one child's head is toward another child's feet in the same row.

Rule .12(4) - Equipment/Furniture-Secured: (4) Equipment and furniture shall be secured if it is of a weight or mass that could cause injury from tipping, falling, or being pulled or pushed over. Potentially unstable equipment and furniture that might injure a child if not secured include, but are not limited to, televisions, chests of drawers, bookcases, shelving, cabinets and fish tanks. Examples of items not required to be secured include, but are not limited to, child-sized tables and chairs, rocking chairs, and cribs.

Rule .30(1)(a)1 - Crib construction: 1. Crib Construction. Cribs shall be in good repair and free of hazards. Stack cribs and cribs with drop sides shall not be used.

Rule .26(9) - Playground-Safe/Clean: (9) Safety and Upkeep of Playground. Playgrounds shall be kept clean, free from litter and free of hazards, such as but not limited to rocks, exposed tree roots and exposed sharp edges of concrete.

Rule .26(6) - Equipment-outdoor: (6) Equipment. Playground equipment shall provide an opportunity for the children to engage in a variety of experiences and shall be age-appropriate. For example, toddlers shall not be permitted to swing in swings designed for School-age Children. The outdoor equipment shall be free of lead-based paint, sharp corners and shall be regularly maintained in such a way as to be free of rust and splinters that could pose significant safety hazard to the children. All equipment shall be arranged so as not to obstruct supervision of children.

Rule .26(4) - Fence-playground: Fence or Approved Barriers. Playgrounds shall be protected from traffic or other hazards by a four (4) foot or higher secure fence or other barrier approved by this Department. Fencing material shall not present a hazard to children and shall be maintained so as to prevent children from leaving the playground area by any means other than through an approved access route. Fence gates shall be kept closed except when persons are entering or exiting the area.

Rule .25(3) - Clean, free of debris, good repair: (3) Cleanliness. The Center and surrounding premises shall be kept clean, free of debris and in good repair. Hygienic measures such as, but not limited to, screened windows and proper waste disposal procedures shall be utilized to minimize the presence of rodents, flies, roaches and other vermin at the Center.

Rule .25(13) - Indoor Storage-Hazards (Recite-Not Met): (13) Indoor Storage Areas. Potentially hazardous equipment, materials and supplies shall be stored in a locked area inaccessible to children. Examples of items to be stored include non-food related products under pressure in aerosol dispensing cans, flammable and corrosive materials, cleaning supplies, poisons, insecticides, office supplies and industrial-sized or commercial buckets with a capacity of three gallons or more or any other similar device with rigid sides which would not tip over if a toddler fell into the container head first.

Rule .15(2) - Infant Feeding Plan (Recite-Not Met): (2) Feeding of Infants and Children. A signed written feeding plan for children less than one (1) year of age shall be obtained from Parent(s). Instructions from the Parent(s) shall be updated regularly as new foods are added or other dietary changes are made. The feeding plan shall be posted in the child's assigned room and must include the child's feeding schedule, the amount of formula or breast milk to be given, instructions for the introduction of solid foods, the amount of food to be given and notation of any type(s) of commercially premixed formula which may not be used in an emergency because of food allergies.

Rule .12(2) - Equipment/Furniture-not hazardous/clean: (2) Equipment and Furniture. Equipment and furniture shall be free from hazardous conditions such as, but not limited to, sharp rough edges or toxic paint and shall be kept clean.

Rule .10(4) - Diaper Changing surface: (4) If diapers are changed on a diaper changing surface, the surface shall be smooth, nonporous, and equipped with a guard or rails to prevent falls. Between each diaper change, the diaper changing surface shall be cleaned with a disinfectant and dried with a single-use disposable towel.

Rule .33(4) - Staff training-food preparation and nutrition training: (4) Food Preparation and Nutrition Training. Within the first year of employment, the Director and the person primarily responsible for food preparation shall receive four (4) clock hours of training in food nutrition planning, preparation, serving, proper dish washing and food storage.

Rule .33(3) - Staff Training-Health and Safety Orientation

Rule .25(13) - Indoor Storage-Hazards: (13) Indoor Storage Areas. Potentially hazardous equipment, materials and supplies shall be stored in a locked area inaccessible to children. Examples of items to be stored include non-food related products under pressure in aerosol dispensing cans, flammable and corrosive materials, cleaning supplies, poisons, insecticides, office supplies and industrial-sized or commercial buckets with a capacity of three gallons or more or any other similar device with rigid sides which would not tip over if a toddler fell into the container head first.

Rule .15(2) - Infant Feeding Plan: (2) Feeding of Infants and Children. A signed written feeding plan for children less than one (1) year of age shall be obtained from Parent(s). Instructions from the Parent(s) shall be updated regularly as new foods are added or other dietary changes are made. The feeding plan shall be posted in the child's assigned room and must include the child's feeding schedule, the amount of formula or breast milk to be given, instructions for the introduction of solid foods, the amount of food to be given and notation of any type(s) of commercially premixed formula which may not be used in an emergency because of food allergies.