Section 5-A143. HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE: SUPPORTING HEALTHY CHILD DEVELOPMENT

 

143.1 A licensed Child Development Facility (“Licensee”) serving children in a full-day program shall ensure that each child, including infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, has a minimum of two (2) hours of active playtime each day, including a minimum of forty-five (45) minutes of outdoor activity, weather permitting. During outdoor play, children shall be dressed appropriately for weather and temperature.

 

143.2 A Licensee shall provide one (1) hour of structured active play and guided physical activity, and one (1) hour of child‐initiated unstructured physical activity.  A Licensee shall schedule children attending less than a full‐day program to participate in a proportionate amount of such physical activities. In inclement weather, a Licensee shall encourage and support active play in a safe indoor play area.

 

143.3 Children shall not be engaged in sedentary activities or activities requiring them to sit passively for more than sixty (60) minutes continuously, except during scheduled rest or nap time.  

 

143.4 Restrictive infant equipment such as swings, stationary activity centers, infant seats, and molded seats, if used, shall only be used for a maximum of thirty (30) minutes, twice a day.  A Licensee shall ensure that safety straps are used and that infants are supervised when placed in equipment.

 

143.5 A Licensee shall prohibit children less than two (2) years of age from viewing television, videos, or other visual recordings, unless a supervising staff member directly interacts with the children during this viewing time. 

 

143.6 A Licensee shall limit viewing of television, videos, or other visual recordings to no more than sixty (60) minutes total per day for children ages two (2) and older.  The only materials that may be viewed shall consist solely of developmentally appropriate educational programming or programs that actively engage child movement. A Licensee shall limit to a proportionate amount of any such viewing for children ages two (2) and older attending less than a full‐day program. 

 

143.7 Notwithstanding Section 160 (Requirements for a Child Development Facility Operating During Non-Traditional Hours), a Licensee shall ensure that children enrolled are provided periods of rest, not to exceed three (3) hours per day.  The duration and scheduling of activities shall be appropriate in order to prevent fatigue and to meet the physical needs of the enrolled children at the Facility, taking into account the ages and developmental levels of the children. Each child in a full-day program shall have specific times designated for rest each day.

 

143.8 A Licensee shall ensure that each child has a supply of clean, dry clothing following outdoor play, if needed, and that staff promptly remove all soiled clothing from a child and replace it with clean, dry clothing.

 

143.9 A Licensee shall monitor each enrolled child’s development, share observations with the parent(s) or guardian(s), and provide resource information, as needed, for developmental screenings and early intervention services. 

 

 

authority

Sections 3(b)(6A), 3(b)(9), 3(b)(9A), 3(b)(11) of the State Education Office Establishment Act of 2000, effective October 21, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-176; D.C. Official Code §§ 38-2602(b)(6A), (b)(9), (b)(9A), and (b)(11)) (2012 Repl. & 2016 Supp.)); the Day Care Policy Act of 1979, effective September 19, 1979 (D.C. Law 3-16; D.C. Official Code §§ 4-401 et seq. (2012 Repl. & 2016 Supp.)) (“Day Care Act”); Mayor’s Order 2009-3, dated January 15, 2009; the Child Development Facilities Regulation Act of 1998, effective April 13, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-215; D.C. Official Code §§ 7-2031 et seq. (2012 Repl.)) (“Facilities Act”); Mayor’s Order 2009-130, dated July 16, 2009; Sections 503 and 504 of the Early Intervention Program Establishment Act of 2004, effective April 13, 2005 (D.C. Law 15-353; D.C. Official Code §§ 7-863.03 and 7-863.04 (2012 Repl.)); Mayor’s Order 2009-167, dated September 28, 2009; Titles I and II of the Child and Youth, Safety and Health Omnibus Amendment Act of 2004 (“CYSHA”), effective April 13, 2005 (D.C. Law 15-353; D.C. Official Code §§ 1-620.31 et seq. and §§ 4-1501.01 et seq. (2012 Repl. & 2016 Supp.)); and the Healthy Tots Act of 2014, effective February 26, 2015 (D.C. Law 20-155; D.C. Official Code §§ 38-281 et seq. (2016 Supp.)); and pursuant to the Social Security Act, approved February 22, 2012 (Pub.L. 112-96; 42 U.S.C. § 618(c)); the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 (“CCDBG Act”), approved November 19, 2014 (Pub.L. 113-186; 42 U.S.C. §§ 9858 et seq.), and regulations promulgated thereunder at 45 C.F.R. Parts 98 and 99.

source

Final Rulemaking at 63 DCR 14640 (December 2, 2016).