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-.15 - PROGRAM, LANGUAGE, AND LITERACY DEVELOPMENT

(a) Each child shall be provided an opportunity to participate in the program activities.

(b) The environment shall support the development of each child's independence and self help skills.

(c) Routines such as snacks, meals, and rest shall occur at approximately the same time each day.

(d) There shall be a balance between child's choice and educator-directed activities.

(e) There shall be a balance between vigorous activity and quiet play or rest throughout the day.

(f) The child care agency shall plan for and provide distinctive arrival and departure routines that will support children in their transitions.

(g) The educator(s) shall give individual attention to each child throughout the day to include the following activities:

(h) Upon arrival, infants and toddlers shall be removed from car seats immediately.

(i) Children shall never be left unattended in any restraining device, including swings and high chairs.

(j) Children shall not be kept in restraining devices such as swings and high chairs, or similar seating devices for longer than fifteen (15) minutes.

Exception: Children may remain in high chairs while eating.

(k) The educator shall plan and provide developmentally appropriate opportunities for children to interact with one another.

(l) The educator shall provide opportunities for children to play alone or do homework, if they choose, in a small, quiet area away from other activities while maintaining supervision requirements in 1240-04-01-.11.

(m) School-age children shall be encouraged to participate in planning their own schedules and activities.

(n) Extended Care. Children shall be given the same opportunities for developmentally appropriate activities during extended care hours as during conventional care hours.

(a) If electronic media, including but not limited to television, videos/DVDs, or video/computer games, or personal electronic devices are used, they shall be limited as follows:

(b) If used, computers which allow internet access by children shall be equipped with monitoring or filtering software, or other type of software protection that limits children's access to inappropriate websites, e-mail, and instant messages.

(c) Videos, movies, and video/computer games shall be previewed by staff for content.

(d) Programs, movies, computer games, and music with violent or adult content shall not be permitted in children's presence.

(e) Programs, movies, computer games, and music shall be developmentally appropriate for the viewers.

(f) Child care agencies shall inform parents in writing of any scheduled media program viewing.

(g) Other activity choices shall be available to children who do not wish to participate in media time.

(a) Children of all ages, including infants, who are in care more than three (3) daylight hours, shall have a daily opportunity for outdoor play when the temperature range, after adjustment for wind chill and heat index, is between thirty-two degrees and ninety-five degrees Fahrenheit (32°F and 95°F) and it is not raining.

Exception: Child care agencies where outdoor play is prohibitive or dangerous, as determined in the discretion of the Department, may substitute unoccupied indoor space providing fifty (50) square feet per child, subject to approval by the Department.

(b) Agencies shall develop written policies promoting physical activity and shall strive to remove any potential barriers for children to participating in physical activity.

(c) Outdoor play and moderate to vigorous indoor or outdoor physical activity shall be available as follows:

(d) Children shall be properly dressed, and the length of time outside adjusted according to the weather conditions and the age of the children.

(e) Educators shall be alert for any signs of weather-related distress, including dehydration, heat stroke and frostbite.

(f) Each child care agency shall develop simple playground rules that use positive language. Staff shall verbally communicate these rules to children prior to outdoor play.

(g) Staff shall plan and implement activities that engage all children in developmentally appropriate active, physical play such as skipping, running, and jumping.

(a) All children in care for six (6) hours or more shall have an opportunity for a reclining rest period. This is not required for school-age children attending only before and after care or if the children attending the center are on a lengthy field trip.

(b) Children who are fatigued shall be offered an opportunity to rest in addition to scheduled rest periods.

(c) Each child shall be allowed to form his or her own patterns of sleep.

(d) When awake, a child shall not be left in a crib/bed or on a cot or mat for any length of time that is unreasonable for the developmental age of the child.

(e) No child shall be forced to lie down or nap or be forced to stay on a cot or on a mat for an extended period of time.

(f) Nap Room Environment.

(a) Behavioral interventions shall be developmentally appropriate, with consideration given to the attention spans and skills of individual children.

(b) Discipline shall be reasonable, appropriate, and in terms the child can understand.

(c) Potentially shaming, humiliating, frightening, verbally abusive, injurious discipline methods, and/or techniques that isolate the child are prohibited.

(d) Discipline shall not be related to food, rest, or toileting. Food shall not be used or withheld as a form of discipline. Active play opportunities shall not be withheld from children who have misbehaved.

(e) Spanking and all types of corporal punishment are prohibited.

(f) Mechanical and chemical restraints are prohibited.

(g) Educators shall focus upon positive behavior and on the individual child's strengths.

(h) The educator shall address each incident of unacceptable behavior by using methods of positive guidance and discipline to help the child manage his/her behavior.

(i) Each time a child is engaging in unacceptable behavior the educator shall first redirect the child's attention and substitute a desirable activity prior to disciplining the child.

(j) Less restrictive, positive behavior management techniques shall be employed before using time-out.

(k) Time-out may be used to intervene with a child whose behavior is disruptive to the group or hurtful to other children and who does not respond to educator redirection or guidance.

(l) Physical Restraint and Seclusion. The following is not considered physical restraint and is considered acceptable:

(a) Toilet learning shall be done in cooperation with the parents, and communication with parents shall be maintained throughout the process.

(b) Toilet learning shall not be started until a child is able to understand, to demonstrate some degree of bodily control, to do what is asked of them, and to communicate their need to use the bathroom.

(c) Children shall not be made to sit on the potty or toilet for more than five (5) minutes at a time.

(d) Children who are toilet learning shall be cleaned and assisted as needed in a safe, sanitary manner.

(a) Activities shall be intentionally planned based upon the developmental age of the child.

(b) A daily program shall provide developmentally appropriate opportunities for learning math, literature, science, and health, as well as opportunities for self-expression through a variety of creative and multi-cultural activities such as art, music, movement, and dramatic play.

(c) Indoor physical activities, requiring children to use both large and small muscles, shall be provided for children of each age group.

(d) For infants and toddlers, a portion of the day shall include floor time to optimize adultinfant interactions, including direct supervised tummy time for infants less than six (6) months of age, for activities that develop physical, social, language and cognitive skills. The floor shall be clean and safe. Infants should be placed on a firm, safe surface such as a non-plush carpet, mat, or rug for tummy time, with no soft materials placed under or around the infant during tummy time. If the infant falls asleep during tummy time, educators shall immediately place the infant in a crib on their back and follow all safe sleep procedures.

(e) Educators shall listen to and respond verbally to infants and toddlers throughout the day.

(f) The director or primary educator shall observe and document the use of the applicable developmental learning standards.

(a) For ages three (3) years through school age, a personal safety curriculum shall be provided at least once a year.

(b) The personal safety curriculum shall include a Department-recognized component for the prevention of child abuse.

(c) For children four (4) years of age and older, a child sexual abuse prevention component shall be included.

(d) The child care agency may choose terminology and instructional methods for this curriculum that provides clear, effective and appropriate instruction to the children in personal safety, including the prevention of all forms of child abuse.

(e) Personal Safety Instruction Requirements for School-Age Children.

(f) The personal safety curriculum used shall be made available to parents/guardians for review. The child care agency shall use a notification form developed by the Department to document that the parents/guardians have been notified of the curriculum and of their opportunity to review.

(g) The record of each enrolled child shall include a copy of the signed notification form.

(h) If requested, child care agency staff shall meet with the parents/guardians to discuss the curriculum.

(i) Specific requirements for drop-in centers are described in 1240-04-01-.23.

(a) Quiet, calming activities shall be provided preceding bedtime, such as reading or listening to a story or soft music. In addition, children shall receive individual attention from educators as needed.

(b) Routine personal hygiene shall be encouraged and supervised. A plan shall be made with parents/guardians for maintaining children's routines such as tooth brushing, bath time, and bedtime rituals.