Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 1240 - Human Services
Subtitle 1240-04 - Standards for Regulated Institutions
Chapter 1240-04-01 - Licensure Rules for Child Care Agencies
Section 1240-04-01-.14 - EQUIPMENT FOR CHILDREN
Universal Citation: TN Comp Rules and Regs 1240-04-01-.14
Current through September 24, 2024
(1) General.
(a) All indoor and outdoor equipment,
appliances, and furnishings shall be safe.
(b) There shall be developmentally
appropriate equipment and furnishings for each age group enrolled.
(c) The manufacturer's safety instructions
shall be followed for assembling, installing, securing, and using all indoor
and outdoor equipment, appliances, and furnishings. Such instructions shall be
retained on-site and communicated to all appropriate staff.
(d) Items within the reach of children shall
have no:
1. Dangerous angles;
2. Sharp edges;
3. Splinters;
4. Protruding nails;
5. Protruding nuts or bolts;
6. Heavy or hard swing seats;
7. Head entrapment spaces; or
8. Open S-hooks or pinch points, or similar
hazards.
(e) All indoor
and outdoor large and heavy equipment, appliances and furnishings shall be
secured or supported so that they cannot fall or tip over. This includes, but
is not limited to, the following:
1.
Television sets;
2.
Computers;
3. Monitors;
4. Book cases;
5. Cubbies;
6. Dressers; and
7. Shelves.
(f) Electrical cords shall be inaccessible to
children younger than school-age.
(g) Cords on window blinds or curtains shall
be inaccessible to children.
(h)
Damaged, unsteady, or non-useable equipment shall be immediately repaired or
immediately removed from the room or playground.
(i) Equipment shall be kept clean by washing
it frequently with soap and water.
(2) Indoor Equipment.
(a) Sufficient indoor equipment, materials,
and toys shall be available to:
1. Meet the
active and quiet play needs of all children enrolled.
2. Provide a variety of developmentally
appropriate equipment so that each child may choose from at least two play
options.
(b) Toys,
educational materials, and play materials shall be organized and displayed
within children's reach so that each child can select and return items
independently.
(c) Toys and
teaching materials and supplies which are small or which have small parts that
can be inhaled or swallowed shall be inaccessible to infants and
toddlers.
(d) Equipment and a safe
space on the floor shall be provided for infants and toddlers for climbing,
crawling, pulling up and exploring without the use of confining equipment. The
equipment and safe space shall:
1. Be
exclusively used for infants and toddlers; and
2. Be clean and safe at all times.
(3) Outdoor Play Equipment.
(a) Trampolines are
prohibited.
(b) A variety of
developmentally appropriate outdoor play equipment shall be
available.
(c) Climbing equipment
shall be placed at least six (6) feet from retainer structures, fencing, other
equipment and traffic paths.
1. A fall zone of
at least six (6) feet shall surround all climbing equipment on all
sides.
2. The requirements in part
1. above shall apply to all updates to currently licensed playgrounds.
(d) The fall zone
around swings shall extend twice the distance of the length of the swing
chain.
(e) Climbers, swings, and
other heavy equipment that could cause injury if toppled shall be securely
anchored to the ground.
(f)
Climbers and swings shall have a protective fall zone surface recognized by the
Product Safety Commission (CPSC) as a shock absorbing, resilient material.
(g) Portable equipment shall be
securely anchored or rendered immobile if required according to the
manufacturer's instructions.
(h)
Manufactured unitary surfaces shall be installed according to the safety
specifications of the manufacturer and shall conform to American Society for
Testing and Materials (ASTM) F1292 standards.
(4) Naptime and Sleeping Equipment.
(a) Napping or sleeping equipment shall be
available for each child six (6) weeks to five (5) years of age, who is in care
for six (6) hours or more.
(b) A
quiet rest area and cots or mats shall be available for all children who want
to rest or nap.
(c) All nap/sleep
equipment shall be clean and in good repair, and shall comply with the
following requirements:
1. Individual cots or
two-inch (2") mats shall be provided for children ages twelve (12) months
through five (5) years, if developmentally appropriate.
2. Individual beds, playpens, cribs, or cots
shall be provided for children sleeping for extended periods of more than two
and one-half (2 1/2) hours, such as during nighttime care.
3. Each child under twelve (12) months shall
have an individual, free-standing crib/or play yard at least twenty-two inches
(22") by thirty-six inches (36") with an open top.
4. Each crib, cot, bed or mat shall be
labeled with the child's name or a corresponding code to ensure that each child
sleeps on his or her own bedding.
(i) If a cot
or mat is used by more than one child throughout the day, it shall be properly
labeled and sanitized between uses, with a solution appropriate for general
cleaning.
5. Cribs and
play yards must comply with CPSC requirements.
6. Stackable cribs are prohibited.
7. Nesting beds are prohibited.
8. Adjacent, uniformly spaced crib parts such
as slats, spindles, corner posts and rods shall not be more than two and
three-eighths inches (2 3/8") apart at any point.
9. Original manufacturers' mattresses and
sleep surfaces upholstered with a safe, waterproof material shall be used in
each crib and play yard.
10.
Mattresses and foam pads shall fit the crib without any gaps or spaces in order
to prevent suffocation.
11. A clean
sheet shall be used to cover each child's sleeping surface.
12. A blanket or covering shall be available
to each child sleeping on a mat.
13. Soiled sheets and blankets shall be
promptly replaced.
Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-201, et seq.; 71-1-105(a)(12); and 71-3-501, et seq.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Tennessee may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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