Part VIII. Care of Children
8VAC20-800-560. Supervision.
A. A caregiver shall be physically present on site and provide direct care and supervision of each child at all times. Direct care and supervision of each child includes:
1. Awareness of and responsibility for each child in care, including being near enough to intervene if needed; and
2. Monitoring of each sleeping infant in one of the following ways:
a. By placing each infant for sleep in a location where the infant is within sight and hearing of a caregiver;
b. By in-person observation of each sleeping infant at least once every 15 minutes; or
c. By using a baby monitor.
B. Caregivers shall actively supervise each child during outdoor play to minimize the risk of injury to a child.
C. A caregiver may allow only school age children to play outdoors while the caregiver is indoors if the caregiver can hear the children playing outdoors.
D. Infants shall be protected from older children.
E. No child under five years of age or a child older than five who lacks the motor skills and strength to avoid accidental drowning, scalding, or falling while bathing shall be left unattended while in the bathtub.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC40-111-560 derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. July 1, 2010; renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-800-570. Determining need for additional caregiver.
A. The provider shall ensure that a caregiver does not exceed 16 points by using the following point system to determine if an additional caregiver is needed:
1. Children from birth through 15 months of age count as four points each;
2. Children from 16 months through 23 months of age count as three points each;
3. Children from two through four years of age count as two points each;
4. Children from five years through nine years of age count as one point each; and
5. Children who are 10 years of age and older count as zero points.
B. A caregiver's own children and resident children under eight years of age count in point maximums.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC40-111-570 derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. July 1, 2010; renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-800-580. General requirements for programs.
A. In order to promote the child's physical, intellectual, emotional, and social well-being and growth, caregivers shall:
1. Talk to the child;
2. Provide needed help, comfort, and support;
3. Respect personal privacy;
4. Respect differences in cultural, ethnic, and family backgrounds;
5. Encourage decision-making abilities;
6. Promote ways of getting along;
7. Encourage independence and self-direction; and
8. Use consistency in applying expectations.
B. Caregivers shall provide age-appropriate activities for children in care throughout the day that:
1. Are based on the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs of the children;
2. Reflect the diversity of enrolled children's families, culture, and ethnic backgrounds; and
3. Enhance the total development of children.
C. Daily age-appropriate activities shall include:
1. Opportunities for alternating periods of indoor active and quiet play depending on the ages of the children;
2. Opportunities for vigorous outdoor play daily, depending upon the weather, the ages, and the health of the children;
3. Opportunities for one or more regularly scheduled rest or nap periods. Children unable to sleep shall be provided time and space for quiet play;
4. Opportunities for children to learn about themselves, others, and the world around them;
5. Opportunities for children to exercise initiative and develop independence in accordance with their ages; and
6. Opportunities for structured and unstructured play time and provider-directed and child-initiated learning activities.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC40-111-580 derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. July 1, 2010; renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-800-590. Requirements for sleeping and resting.
A. Infants shall be placed on their backs when sleeping or napping unless otherwise ordered by a written statement signed by the child's physician.
B. An infant, toddler, or preschool child who falls asleep in a play space other than his own crib, cot, mat, or bed shall be moved promptly to his designated sleeping space if the safety or comfort of the infant, toddler, or preschool child is in question.
C. School age children shall be allowed to nap if needed, but not forced to do so.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC40-111-590 derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. July 1, 2010; renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-800-600. Daily activities for infants and toddlers.
A. Infants and toddlers shall be provided with opportunities to:
1. Interact with caregivers and other children in the home in order to stimulate language development;
2. Play with a wide variety of safe, age-appropriate toys;
3. Receive individual attention from caregivers including, but not limited to, holding, cuddling, talking, and reading; and
4. Reach, grasp, pull up, creep, crawl, and walk to develop motor skills.
B. Infants and toddlers shall spend no more than 30 minutes of consecutive time during waking hours, with the exception of mealtimes, confined in a crib, play pen, high chair or other confining piece of equipment. The intervening time period between confinements shall be at least one hour.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC40-111-600 derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. July 1, 2010; renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-800-610. Television, computers, videos, and video games.
A. Use of media such as, but not limited to, television, videos, video games, and computers shall be:
1. Limited to not more than a total of two hours per day; and
2. Limited to programs, tapes, websites, and software that are produced for children or are suitable for children.
B. Other activities shall be available to children during television or video viewing.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC40-111-610 derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. July 1, 2010; renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-800-620. Care of a child with special needs.
A. Caregivers shall provide a child with special needs with the care and activities recommended in writing by a physician, psychologist, or other professional who has evaluated or treated the child.
B. The written recommendation shall:
1. Include instructions for any special treatment, diet, or restrictions in activities that are necessary for the health of the child; and
2. Be maintained in the child's record.
C. The provider shall ensure the environment is appropriate for the child based on the plan of care and shall instruct other caregivers in the proper techniques of care.
D. A caregiver shall perform only those procedures and treatments for which he has the necessary training, experience, credentials, or license to perform.
E. Staffing shall be appropriate and adequate to meet the specific physical and developmental needs of a child with special needs in care.
F. The provider and the parent of the child with special needs shall mutually determine a recommendation for the level of staffing necessary to care for and supervise the child based on the child's chronological and functional age and degree of disability.
G. Within 30 days of the child's enrollment, the provider shall provide the department's representative a written recommendation for the level of staffing necessary to care for and supervise the child.
H. The department shall make the final decision regarding level of staffing or any capacity limitations necessary to care for, supervise, and protect all children in care when a child with special needs is receiving care.
I. The parent, provider, and department's representative shall review the staffing requirements annually.
J. A separate area shall be provided for the purpose of privacy for diapering, dressing, and other personal care procedures for a child above age three with special needs who requires assistance in these activities.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC40-111-620 derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. July 1, 2010; renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-800-630. Behavioral guidance.
A. Caregivers shall use positive methods of discipline. Discipline shall be constructive in nature and include techniques such as:
1. Using limits that are fair, consistently applied, appropriate, and understandable for the child's level of development;
2. Providing children with reasons for limits;
3. Giving positively worded direction;
4. Modeling and redirecting children to acceptable behavior;
5. Helping children to constructively express their feelings and frustration to resolve conflict; and
6. Arranging equipment, materials, activities, and schedules in a way that promotes desirable behavior.
B. When time out is used as a discipline technique:
1. It shall be used sparingly and shall not exceed one minute for each year of the child's age;
2. It shall be appropriate to the child's developmental level and circumstances;
3. It shall not be used with infants or toddlers;
4. The child shall be in a safe, lighted, well-ventilated place, and within sight and sound of a caregiver; and
5. The child shall not be left alone inside or outside the home while separated from the group.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC40-111-630 derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. July 1, 2010; renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-800-640. Forbidden actions.
The following acts or threats thereof are forbidden:
1. Physical punishment including, but not limited to, striking a child, roughly handling or shaking a child, biting, pinching, restricting movement through binding or tying, forcing a child to assume an uncomfortable position, or exercise as punishment;
2. Enclosure in a small, confined space or any space that the child cannot freely exit himself; however, this does not apply to the use of equipment such as cribs, play pens, high chairs, and safety gates when used for their intended purpose with children preschool age or younger;
3. Punishment by another child;
4. Withholding or forcing of food, water, or rest;
5. Verbal remarks that are demeaning to the child;
6. Punishment for toileting accidents; and
7. Punishment by applying unpleasant or harmful substances.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC40-111-640 derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. July 1, 2010; renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-800-650. Parent notifications.
A. The provider shall provide written notification to the parent within 10 business days after the effective date of the change when there is no longer liability insurance in force on the family day home operation.
1. The provider shall obtain the parent's written acknowledgement of the receipt of this notification, and
2. A copy of the parent's written acknowledgement of the receipt of this notification shall be maintained in the child's record.
B. Caregivers shall provide information daily to parents about the child's health, development, behavior, adjustment, or needs.
C. The provider shall give parents prior notice when a substitute provider will be caring for the children.
D. Caregivers shall notify parents when persistent behavioral problems are identified and such notification shall include any disciplinary steps taken in response.
E. The provider shall notify the parent immediately when the child:
1. Has a head injury or any serious injury that requires emergency medical or dental treatment;
2. Has an adverse reaction to medication administered;
3. Has been administered medication incorrectly;
4. Is lost or missing; or
5. Has died.
F. The provider shall notify a parent the same day whenever first aid is administered to the child.
G. When a child has been exposed to a communicable disease listed in the Department of Health's current communicable disease chart, the provider shall notify the parent within 24 hours or the next business day of the home's having been informed, unless forbidden by law, except for life-threatening diseases, which must be reported to parents immediately. The provider shall consult the local health department if there is a question about the communicability of a disease.
H. Parents shall be informed of any changes in the home's emergency preparedness and response plan.
I. Except in emergency evacuation or relocation situations, the provider shall inform the parent and have written permission as required by 8VAC20-800-980 whenever the child will be taken off the premises of the family day home, before such occasion.
J. If an emergency evacuation or relocation is necessary, the parent shall be informed of the child's whereabouts as soon as possible.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC40-111-650 derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. July 1, 2010; amended and renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.