10A NCAC 09 .0511. ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN UNDER TWO YEARS OF AGE

(a)  For activities for children under two years of age the following apply:

(1)           Each center shall have developmentally appropriate toys and activities for each child to promote the child's physical, emotional, intellectual and social well-being including appropriate books, blocks, dolls, pretend play materials, musical toys, sensory toys, and fine motor toys.  The following apply:

(A)          The materials shall be kept in an identifiable space where related equipment and materials are kept in identifiable groupings and must be made available to the children on a daily basis.

(B)          The materials shall be offered in sufficient quantity to allow all children to use them at some point during the day and to allow for a range of choices with duplicates of the most popular toys;

(C)          On a daily basis caregivers shall make provisions for the promotion of physical development which shall include varied, developmentally appropriate physical activities.  A safe clean, uncluttered area that allows freedom of movement shall be available, both indoors and outdoors, for infants and for toddlers; and

(D)          Hands-on experiences, including both familiar and new activities, shall be provided to enable the infant or toddler to learn about himself and the world both indoors and outdoors.

(b)  The center shall provide time and space for sleeping, eating, toileting, diaper changing, and playing according to each child's individual need.

(c)  The caregivers shall interact in a positive manner with each child every day, including the following ways:

(1)           Caregivers shall respond promptly to an infant or toddler's physical and emotional needs, especially when indicated by crying through actions such as feeding, diapering, holding, positive touching, smiling, talking and eye contact.

(2)           The caregiver shall recognize the special difficulties of infant and toddler separations and assist families, infants, and toddlers to make the transition from home to center as gently as possible, such as a phased-in orientation process to allow infants and toddlers to experience limited amounts of time at the center before becoming fully integrated.

(3)           A caregiver or team of caregivers shall be assigned to each infant or toddler as the primary caregiver(s) who is responsible for care the majority of the time.

(4)           The caregiver shall make provision for constructive guidance and the setting of limits that the child can understand which foster the infant's or toddler's ability to be self-disciplined, as appropriate to the child's age and development.

(5)           In drop-in centers, effort shall be made to place an infant or toddler, who uses the center frequently, with the same caregiver.

(d)  While awake, each child under the age of 12 months shall be given the opportunity each day to play while positioned on his or her stomach.

(e)  Screen time, including television, videos, video games, and computer usage, is prohibited.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 110-85; 110-91(2),(12); 143B-168.3;

Eff. July 1, 1988;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2010; May 1, 2004; July 1, 1998; October 1, 1991; January 1, 1991.