Virginia Law

A. Furnishings, equipment, and materials shall be of an appropriate size for the child using it.

B. Materials and equipment available shall be age and stage appropriate for the children and shall include an adequate supply as appropriate for each age group of arts and crafts materials, texture materials, construction materials, music and sound materials, books, social living equipment, and manipulative equipment.

C. Play equipment used by children shall meet the following requirements:

1. Openings above the ground or floor which allow a 3-1/2 inch by 6-1/4 inch rectangle to fit through shall also allow a nine-inch circle to fit through;

2. S-hooks where provided may not be open more than the thickness of a penny; and

3. Have no protrusions, sharp points, shearing points, or pinch points.

D. The unenclosed climbing portion of slides and climbing equipment used by toddlers and preschool children shall not be more than seven feet high and must be located over resilient surfacing where outdoors, and shall not be more than five feet high where indoors.

E. Centers may not install after June 1, 2005, any slide or climbing equipment to be used by preschoolers or toddlers when the climbing portion of the equipment is more than six feet in height.

F. The climbing portions of indoor slides and climbing equipment over 18 inches shall not be over bare flooring.

G. The climbing portions of indoor slides and climbing equipment 36 inches or more shall be located over a resilient surface.

H. Trampolines may not be used.

EXCEPTION: The requirements of subsections A through H of this section shall not prohibit child day programs providing care for school-age children at a location that is currently approved by the Department of Education or recognized as a private school by the State Board of Education for school occupancy and that houses a public or private school during the school year from permitting school-age children to use outdoor play equipment and areas approved for use by students of the school during school hours.

I. If combs, toothbrushes, or other personal articles are used, they shall be individually assigned.

J. Disposable products shall be used once and discarded.

K. Provision shall be made for an individual place for each child's personal belongings.

L. Infant walkers shall not be used.

M. Play yards where used shall:

1. Meet the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) requirements and shall retain the manufacturer's label documenting product compliance with current safety standards at the time they were manufactured;

2. Not be used after recalled;

3. Not use any pillows or filled comforters;

4. Not be used for the designated sleeping areas;

5. Not be occupied by more than one child; and

6. Be sanitized each day of use or more often as needed.

N. Upon being informed that a product has been recalled, center staff shall remove the item from the center.

O. Where portable water coolers are used, they shall be of cleanable construction, maintained in a cleaned condition, kept securely closed and so designed that water may be withdrawn from the container only by water tap or faucet.

P. Drinking water which is transported to camp sites shall be in closed containers.

Q. Therapeutic child day programs and special needs child day programs serving children who use wheelchairs shall provide cushioned vinyl-covered floormats for use when activities require children to be out of their wheelchairs.