Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 3, September 1, 2024
57.1 A licensee shall provide developmentally-appropriate equipment and materials for a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. There must be enough equipment and materials for all children to use. Materials and equipment must help provide many experiences and choices that support all children's social-emotional, language and literacy, intellectual, and physical development.
57.2 A licensee shall ensure that for children less than 24 months old, developmentally-appropriate supplies or equipment are provided in quantities as described in subsection 57.1 in each of the following categories:
57.2.1 Sensory, such as teething toys, busy boxes, baby mirrors, rattles, melody chimes, squeeze toys; or other similar items;
57.2.2 Language and dramatic play, such as picture books, toy telephones, CDs, hand puppets, washable stuffed animals and dolls, photographs, or other similar items;
57.2.3 Manipulative, such as squeeze and grip toys, boxes, sorting and stacking toys, three (3) or four (4) piece wooden inlay puzzles, puzzle blocks, simple threading toys, mobile pull toys, balls, or other similar items;
57.2.4 Building, such as soft lightweight blocks, toy cars, trains or boats, figures of animals and people, stacking rings or cups, nesting toys, or other similar items;
57.2.5 Large muscle, such as low climbers, slides, riding or rocking toys, foam or soft plastic balls, gym mats, play tunnels, or other similar items; and
57.2.6 Music, such as rhythm instruments, a CD player and CDs, toys with musical tones, musical mobiles or busy boxes, drums, xylophones or pianos, or other similar items.
57.3 A licensee shall ensure developmentally-appropriate supplies or equipment are provided in quantities as described in subsection 57.1 for children over 24 months to school-age in each of the following categories:
57.3.1 Language and literacy, such as books, flannel board, upper and lower case letters, pictures for discussion, materials for recognition, identification, or classification, poetry, puppets, audio-visual materials, show and tell items, or other similar items;
57.3.2 Science and math, such as plants and gardening equipment, aquarium with fish or other appropriate live animals, water table with supplies, sand table with supplies, cooking supplies, weather chart or thermometer, counting equipment, balance scale, or other similar items;
57.3.3 Manipulative, such as puzzles, pegs and pegboards, lacing boards, building toys, stencils, dominoes, pounding bench, lotto games, or other similar items;
57.3.4 Large muscle such as rocking boat, wheel toys, climbers, slides, balance beam, barrels or large cartons, parachute, balls and beanbags, outdoor play equipment, gym mats, or other similar items;
57.3.5 Building activities, such as unit blocks (minimum of four sizes), transportation toys, farm animals, play people, work bench and tools, building toys, building logs, or other similar items;
57.3.6 Art, such as 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 play dough, or other similar items;
57.3.7 Music, such as a CD player and CDs, piano or organ, guitar, rhythm sticks, drums, cymbals and bells, or other similar items; and
57.3.8 Dramatic play, such as toy dishes, ironing board, telephones, occupational props or uniforms, dress-up clothes, housekeeping area (stove, sink, refrigerator), cradle or doll bed, doll carriage, dolls, puppets, play grocery store, post office or hospital, or other similar items.
57.4 A licensee shall ensure furniture is durable and child-sized or adapted to children's use. Tables must be at waist height of the intended child-user and the child's feet must reach a firm surface while the child is seated.
57.5 A licensee shall ensure equipment and materials are selected or adapted to allow all children, including a child with disabilities or other special needs, to benefit from the program.
57.6 A licensee shall ensure equipment and supplies are relevant to the cultural background and community of all children and raise awareness of other cultures and communities.
57.7 A licensee shall prohibit toys that explode or shoot objects.
57.8 A licensee shall ensure toys and equipment used by the children are sturdy, safely assembled, hazard-free, and not recalled. Toys and equipment may not cause children to become trapped or have rough edges, sharp corners, pinch and crush points, splinters, or exposed bolts. Equipment in poor condition must be repaired, removed. or made inaccessible to children.
57.9 A licensee shall take the following measures to prevent hazards to children in care:
57.9.1 To prevent cuts, abrasions, and punctures, equipment, materials, and other objects on the premises that have sharp edges, protruding nails, bolts, or other dangers must be repaired, removed, or made inaccessible to children. Sharp edges on natural wooden equipment must be sanded;
57.9.2 To prevent burns, equipment, materials, or products that may be hot enough to injure a child must be made inaccessible to children;
57.9.3 To prevent sheering, crushing, or pinching, broken or cracked equipment, materials, and objects must be repaired, removed, or made inaccessible to children;
57.9.4 To prevent entrapment, freezers, refrigerators, washers, dryers, compost bins, and other entrapment dangers must be inaccessible to children unless being actively supervised;
57.9.5 To prevent tripping, uneven indoor and outdoor walkways, damaged flooring or carpeting, or other tripping hazards must be removed or repaired;
57.9.6 To prevent injuries and death, large objects that pose a risk of falling or tipping must be securely anchored. Large objects include, but are not limited to, televisions, dressers, bookshelves, wall cabinets, sideboards or hutches, and wall units; and
57.9.7 To prevent injuries, equipment in poor condition (rusty parts, flaking paint, or other dangers) must be repaired, removed, or made inaccessible to children.
