Rules and Regulations: Childcare
Tanya Bonewell
May 5, 2012
Understanding of the Rules and Regulations
The Colorado Rules and Regulations for childcare are put into place to help daycares provide a fun and educational setting while keeping the kids safe and ensuring that qualified staff is watching them. The rules consist of topics such as; health and Safety, Fire, Teachers, Ratio’s, Nutrition, and many more. Health and Safety is a highly regulated topic as it is regulated by both the Health Department and the State Rules and Regulations. Hands must be washed before each meal and after each child goes to the bathroom. Proper bleach solution is to be used on changing tables and eating surfaces. Centers must be cleaned and in good standings with no broken toys. Toys and linens must be washed weekly if not more often. Nap mats must be separated by 2 feet to give space to each child. All bleach and cleaning materials must be in a locked area and up out of the reach of children. There are so many different rules to be followed that deal with the health and safety of the child. The State requires that centers do fire drills at least once a month and tornado drills. Again, fire safety is a highly regulated as it too is regulated by two different parties. The Rules and Regulations put in fire and tornado drills to ensure that the children and staff understand what to do if there was a fire. In this section of Rules and Regulations it requires centers to have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in specific places to ensure safety in the school. Lead Teacher requirements just recently changed as well as Director Qualifications. In order to be considered a group leader a teacher must have both experience and education. The change states that Group leaders must have the hours but have also completed ECE101 and another ECE class. If a teacher has only one and not the other they are allowed to be in a classroom to do one break at lunch time and to either open or
May 5, 2012
Understanding of the Rules and Regulations
The Colorado Rules and Regulations for childcare are put into place to help daycares provide a fun and educational setting while keeping the kids safe and ensuring that qualified staff is watching them. The rules consist of topics such as; health and Safety, Fire, Teachers, Ratio’s, Nutrition, and many more. Health and Safety is a highly regulated topic as it is regulated by both the Health Department and the State Rules and Regulations. Hands must be washed before each meal and after each child goes to the bathroom. Proper bleach solution is to be used on changing tables and eating surfaces. Centers must be cleaned and in good standings with no broken toys. Toys and linens must be washed weekly if not more often. Nap mats must be separated by 2 feet to give space to each child. All bleach and cleaning materials must be in a locked area and up out of the reach of children. There are so many different rules to be followed that deal with the health and safety of the child. The State requires that centers do fire drills at least once a month and tornado drills. Again, fire safety is a highly regulated as it too is regulated by two different parties. The Rules and Regulations put in fire and tornado drills to ensure that the children and staff understand what to do if there was a fire. In this section of Rules and Regulations it requires centers to have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in specific places to ensure safety in the school. Lead Teacher requirements just recently changed as well as Director Qualifications. In order to be considered a group leader a teacher must have both experience and education. The change states that Group leaders must have the hours but have also completed ECE101 and another ECE class. If a teacher has only one and not the other they are allowed to be in a classroom to do one break at lunch time and to either open or