Ratios
How many children are allowed to be in a 3 year old classroom?
The total number of children allowed to be in a 3 year old classroom is 30. (Also, depends on the square footage)
What are the basic care requirements for prekindergarten age children?
Routines such as diapering or toileting, eating, napping or resting, indoor activity times, and outdoor activity times.
. How long may the nap and rest time last each day?
The sleep or rest period must not exceed three hours.
What are the basic requirements for meal and snack times?
You must serve all children ready for table food regular meals and morning and afternoon snacks as specified
What items must each first-aid kit contain?
(1)A guide to first aid and emergency care; (2)Adhesive tape; (3)Antiseptic solution or wipes;(4)Adhesive bandages; (5)Scissors; (6)Sterile gauze pads; (7)Thermometer, preferably non-glass; (8)Tweezers; and (9) Waterproof, disposable gloves. (b)The first-aid supplies must not have expired.
How many teachers are required to be in a classroom of 19 Four year-olds?
The answer is 2 teachers. (ratio 18:1)
What are the basic care requirements for school-age children?
Individual attention from and conversation with adults, Physical care routines appropriate to each child’s developmental needs and Flexible programming according to ages, interests, and abilities of the children
Must I provide an alternative activity for those children who cannot sleep?
Yes. You must allow each child who is awake after resting or sleeping for one hour to participate in an alternative, quiet activity until the nap/rest time is over for the other children.
May parents provide meals and snacks for their child instead of my child-care center providing them?
As long as the parent understands the child-care center is not responsible for its nutritional value or for meeting the child's daily food needs.
To whom may I release a child?
You must release a child only to a parent or a person designated by the parent.(b)Upon receipt of a valid court order signed by a judge that prohibits a parent from removing the named child or children from the child-care center, the child-care center must: (1)Comply with the court order immediately and until (A)Receipt of a subsequent court order that revokes the primary order; or (B)The court order expires as defined in the document; and (2)Maintain a copy of the court order in the child's file.
When may I combine infants with children 18 months and older?
If you have 12 or fewer children in care you may combine infants with older children without regard to age 45 min. before closing, 45 min after opening.
What activities must I provide for a toddler?
Opportunities for outdoor play, Opportunities for thinking skills and sensory development, Opportunities for small-muscle development, Opportunities for large-muscle development, Opportunities for language development, Opportunities for social and emotional development, Opportunities to develop self-help skills such as toileting, hand washing, and selffeeding
Must I arrange the napping equipment in a specific manner?
Not block entrances or exits to the area; Not be set up during other activities or left in place to interfere with children’s activity space; Be arranged to provide a sufficient walk and work space for caregivers between each cot and mat; Be arranged so that each child and caregiver has access to a walkway without having to walk on or over the cots or mats of other children; and be arranged so the caregiver can adequately supervise all children in the group
How often must I feed a child in my care?
(1)Less than four hours One snack. (2) Four to five hours One meal. (3) Six to eight hours One meal and one snack. (4) More than eight hours (A) Two meals and one snack; or (B) One meal and two snacks.
What are acceptable loose-fill surfacing materials?
Loose-fill surfacing materials include, but are not limited to, loose particles such as sand, pea gravel, shredded wood products, and shredded rubber
What is the maximum group size?
The maximum group size and the number of children two or more caregivers may supervise when 13 or more children are in care is (0 – 11 months 10), (12 – 17 months 13), (18 – 23 months 18), (2 years 22), (3 years 30), (4 years and up 35).
What specific types of equipment am I prohibited from using with infants?
Baby walkers, Baby doorway jumpers, Accordion safety gates, Toys that are not large enough to prevent swallowing or choking, Bean bags, waterbeds, and foam pads for use as sleeping equipment.
May I lower the lighting in the room while children are sleeping?
Yes. You may lower the lighting, provided there is adequate lighting to allow visual supervision of all children in the group at all times. Lighting in a room is adequate if a person's eyes do not need to adjust for the person to be able to see upon entering the room.
What are the requirements for a child who requires a special diet?
To serve a child a therapeutic or special diet, you must: (1)Have written approval from: (A)A physician or health-care professional with prescriptive authority if the diet relates to a disability that restricts the child’s diet; or (B)A health-care professional or a registered or licensed dietician if the diet does not relate to a disability that restricts the child’s diet; (2)Maintain the written approval in the child’s record; and (3)Give the information to all employees preparing and serving food
What are “children’s products?”
Children’s products are products that are designed or intended to be used by a child under 13 years of age or used by a caregiver during the care of a child under 13 years of age.
How do I determine the specified age of the children in each group?
Determine the total number of children in the group and divide this number by two. If the result is not a whole number but is .5, such as 6.5, round up to the next number, which is 7. This will be the core number of the group.
What methods of discipline and guidance may a caregiver use?
Individualized and consistent for each child, Appropriate to the child's level of understanding, Directed toward teaching the child acceptable behavior and self-control, A positive method of discipline and guidance that encourages self-esteem, self control, and self-direction, including the following: (A)Using praise and encouragement of good behavior instead of focusing only upon unacceptable behavior; (B)Reminding a child of behavior expectations daily by using clear, positive statements; (C)Redirecting behavior using positive statements
Are children required to sleep during this time?
No. You must not: (1)Force a child to sleep or put anything in or on a child's head or body to force the child to rest or sleep; or (2)Confine a child in a restrictive device to make the child rest or sleep.
What steps must I take to ensure a healthy environment for children at my child-care center?
You must clean, repair, and maintain the building, grounds, and equipment to protect the health of the children. This includes, but is not limited to: (1)Setting aside toys and equipment that are placed in children’s mouths, or are otherwise contaminated by body secretion or excrement, to be sanitized before handling by another child; (2)Machine washing cloth toys, if used, at least weekly and when contaminated; (3)Machine washing all linens at least weekly, and when soiled or before another child uses them; (4)Sanitizing sleeping equipment before a different child uses it and when soiled; (5)Sanitizing potty-chairs after each child’s use; (6)Emptying water play tables and toys used in water tables daily, sanitizing, and ensuring children and caregivers wash their hands before using the water table; (7)Maintaining sand boxes and sand tables in a sanitary manner; (8)Making all garbage inaccessible to children and managing it to keep the child-care center inside and outside, free of insects, rodents, and offensive odors, and disposing of it according to local and state requirements
When is a children’s product considered to be unsafe?
A children’s product is considered to be unsafe if after it has been recalled for any reason by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission