In this section, you will learn about the requirements for supervising and caring for children.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0315, subpart 29a
"Supervision" means a caregiver being within sight or hearing of an infant, toddler, or preschooler at all times so that the caregiver is capable of intervening to protect the health and safety of the child. For the school age child, it means a caregiver being available for assistance and care so that the child's health and safety is protected.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0365, subpart 5 A licensed provider must be the primary provider of care in the residence. Children in care must be supervised by a caregiver. The use of a substitute caregiver must be limited to a cumulative total of not more than 30 days in any 12-month period.
In this section, we will review requirements for activities.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0415, subpart 1
Day care activities must provide for the physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development of the child. The environment must facilitate the implementation of the activities. Activities must:
Item A. be scheduled indoors and outdoors, weather permitting;
Item B. be appropriate to the developmental stage and age of the child;
Item C. include active and quiet activity; and
Item D. contain provider-directed and child-initiated activity.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0415, subpart 4, items A – C
The provider shall:
Item A. Hold the infant or newborn during bottle feedings until the child can hold its own bottle. Bottles must not be propped.
Item B. Respond to the infant or newborn's attempts to communicate.
Item C. Provide freedom of movement to the infant or newborn during a large part of the waking day to the extent that safety and weather permits. The noncreeping child shall spend part of each day out of a crib or infant seat. The creeping infant or newborn shall have freedom to explore outside of the crib or infant seat
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0415, subpart 4, items D-E
Item D. Give the infant or newborn opportunity to stimulate the senses by providing a variety of activities and objects to see, touch, feel, smell, hear, and taste.
Item E. Provide activities for the infant or newborn that develop the child's manipulative and fine motor skills, self-awareness, and social responsiveness.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0415, subpart 6, items A – C
The provider shall:
Item A. Provide the toddler with freedom of movement and freedom to explore outside the crib or playpen.
Item B. Talk to, listen to, and interact with the toddler to encourage language development.
Item C. Provide the toddler with large muscle activities and activities which develop the child's small muscles and manipulative skills.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0415, subpart 6, items D – E
Item D. Develop and stimulate learning by reading stories to the child or looking at picture books together.
Item E. Give the toddler opportunities to stimulate the senses by providing a variety of age-appropriate activities and objects to see, touch, feel, smell, hear, and taste.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0415, subpart 8, items A – D
The provider shall:
Item A. Encourage conversation between the child and other children and adults.
Item B. Provide opportunity to play near and with other children; provide time and space for individual and group play; allow for quiet times to talk or rest; allow for unplanned time and individual play time.
Item C. Foster understanding of personal and peer feelings and actions and allow for the constructive release of feelings and anger through discussion or play.
Item D. Give assistance in toileting and provide time to carry out self-help skills and provide opportunity to be responsible for activities like putting away play equipment and helping around the house.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0415, subpart 8, items E – H
Item E. Provide opportunity for each child to make decisions about daily activities and to take credit for the consequences of decisions.
Item F. Provide time and areas for age appropriate large muscle play.
Item G. Provide learning, small muscle, manipulative, creative or sensory activities.
Item H. Read stories, look at books together, and talk about new words and ideas with the child.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0415, subpart 10, items A – D
The provider shall:
Item A. provide opportunities for individual discussion about the happenings of the day and planning for activities;
Item B. provide space and opportunity for games, activities, or sports using the whole body, outdoors, weather permitting;
Item C. provide space and opportunity for individual rest and quiet time;
Item D. allow increased freedom as the child demonstrates increased responsibility;
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0415, subpart 10, items E - G
Item E. provide opportunities for group experiences with other children;
Item F. provide opportunities to develop or expand self-help skills or real-life experiences; and
Item G. provide opportunities for creative and dramatic activity, arts and crafts, or field trips.
Now we will talk about the equipment you’ll need.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0415, subpart 3
The provider must have the equipment specified in this part in adequate quantities for the number and ages of children in care and to carry out the activities specified in this part. Equipment may be new, used, commercial, or homemade, as long as it is appropriate for the ages of the children and activities for which it will be used, safe, and in good repair.
The following minimum equipment is required for each infant or newborn:
Overview of equipment
Each infant needs their own high chair.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0435, subparts 10 and 11
Separate towels, wash cloths, drinking cups, combs, and other personal articles must be used for each child.
Clean, separate bedding must be provided for each child in care.
Each child must have their own personal items. These include:
In this next section, we will cover requirements for guiding children’s behavior.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0395, Subpart 1
Caregivers shall give each child guidance which helps the child acquire a positive self-concept, self-control, and teaches acceptable behavior.
Item A. The provider shall discuss methods of behavior guidance with parents at the time of admission and the parent's standards shall be considered by the provider within the context of this part when guiding the behavior of a child.
Item B. Behavior guidance used by caregivers must be constructive, positive, and suited to the age of the child. Methods of intervention guidance, and redirection must be used.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0395, subpart 2, item A
The following shall apply to all caregivers when guiding behavior in children.
Item A. No child shall be subject to corporal punishment or emotional abuse. "Corporal punishment" means the nonaccidental infliction of physical pain on a child by a caregiver. Corporal punishment includes, but is not limited to, rough handling, shoving, hair pulling, ear pulling, shaking, slapping, kicking, biting, pinching, hitting, and spanking. "Emotional abuse" means the infliction of verbal or psychological abuse on a child by a caregiver. Emotional abuse includes, but is not limited to, name calling, ostracism, shaming, derogatory remarks about the child or child's family, and threats which threaten, humiliate, or frighten the child.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0395, subpart 2, items B – E
Item B. Food, light, warmth, clothing, and medical care shall not be withheld from the child.
Item C. Discipline and punishment shall not be delegated to another child.
Item D. The separation of a child from a group to guide behavior must be appropriate to the age of the child and circumstances requiring the separation.
Item E. An infant shall not be separated from the group for disciplinary reasons.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0395, subpart 2, items F – H
Item F. A child shall not be separated from the group for a period longer than ten minutes.
Item G. A child separated from the group must be placed in an area or separate room that is well-lighted, free from hazards, ventilated, and open to the view of caregivers.
Item H. No child shall be placed in a locked room to separate the child from the group.
Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0395, subpart 3
If toilet training is undertaken, the provider and parent shall cooperatively develop a plan for the timing and method of training.
Item A. No child shall be punished for toileting accidents.
Item B. A child shall be offered opportunity for toileting.
An adult must guide children’s behavior; children cannot discipline or punish another child. You cannot punish a child physically or with emotional abuse, such as spanking, hitting, name-calling, or by withholding food, light, warmth, clothing, or medical care.
You must discuss methods of behavior guidance with a parent/guardian at the time of admission and consider the parent/guardian’s input when guiding each child’s behavior.
You must work with a parent/guardian to develop a plan for the timing and method of toilet training, if that applies. Children must be offered opportunities to use a toilet throughout the day and cannot be punished for toileting accidents.
