5101:2-12-14 Outdoor play requirements for licensed child care centers.
(A) The center shall provide outdoor play each day in suitable weather for any toddler, preschool child, and school child in attendance for more than four consecutive daylight hours. There shall be a written policy, approved by the department and, followed by the center, which lists the limitations placed on outdoor play due to weather or safety issues. Considerations may include but are not limited to temperature, humidity, wind chill, ozone levels, pollen count, lightening, rain or ice. This plan shall provide for indoor large muscle play.
(B) Child care staff members shall watch for potential hazards while observing children and shall actively supervise to prevent injury. When a group of children is outdoors, the child care staff member responsible for the group shall be able to summon another adult without leaving the group alone or unsupervised.
(C)
Play area: theThe center shall have onsite, or safely accessible, a safe, sanitary outdoor play space free of hazardous conditions which shall meet all of the following requirements:(1)
ProvideProvides at least sixty square feet of usable space per child using the area at one time; .(2)
BeIs well defined by a fence in good repair or a , natural or other barrier;.(3)If gates are used, they shall be equipped with functional latches which cannot be easily opened by young children. Gates shall not be padlocked when children are present at the center.
(3)(4)BeIs protected from traffic and animals;.(4)(5)BeIs maintained free of foreign objects and rubbish;.(5)(6)ProvideProvides a shaded area as needed;.(6)(7)ProvideProvides access to bathroom facilities and drinking water during play times;.(7)(8)ProvideProvides for storage of accumulated trash, rubbish and garbage outside of the play area.(D) A center may be exempt from the requirements of paragraph (C) of this rule if
all ofthe following are met:(1) The facility has an indoor recreation area that has a minimum of one thousand four hundred forty square feet of indoor space that is separate from the space required by rule 5101:2-12-13 of the Administrative Code and is regularly available and scheduled for use. , and
(2) There is a safe park or play area regularly available, scheduled for use and approved by the
director's representativedepartment. Access to this area shall be safe and convenient, and children shall be closely supervised during play and when going to and from the area.(E) A center that is approved to use an off site area may use the play space regardless of change of ownership unless it is determined, upon inspection, that the area or its accessibility is unsafe.
(F)
Equipment: outdoorOutdoor equipment, whether stationary or portable, shall be safe and designed to meet the developmental needs of all of the age groups of children using the space.(1) Equipment, such as, but not limited to, climbing gyms, swings, and slides shall meet all of the following requirements:. Fencing is not considered outdoor equipment.
(a)
BeShall be placed out of the path of the area's main trafficpattern;patterns.(b)
BeShall be anchored or stable, and have all parts in good working order and securely fastened;.(c)
HaveShall have all climbing ropes anchored at both ends and not capable of looping back on themselves creating a loop with an interior perimeter of five inches or greater;.(d)
HaveShall have all "S" hooks closed so that there is no gap greater than.04 inch or the thickness of a dime;.
(e)
BeShall be free of rust, cracks, holes, splinters, sharp points or edges, chipped or peeling paint, toxic substances, protruding bolts, or tripping hazards;.(f)
HaveShall have no openings that are greater than three and one half inches, but less thanthennine inches to avoid entrapment;.(g)
HaveShall have protective barriers on platforms that are thirty inches or higher off the groundhigh or over.(h)
BeShall be assembled and installed according to manufacturers' guidelines..(G)Sandboxes shall be covered with a lid or other covering when they are not in use.
(G)(H)Fall surface: outdoorOutdoor play equipment, designated for climbing,swingsswinging andslidessliding, shall have a fall zone of protective resilient material on the ground under and around the equipment. The material shall be, but not limited to, washed pea gravel, mulch, sand, wood chips, synthetic material such as rubber mats or tiles manufactured for this purpose. This equipment shall not be placed over grass, concrete, asphalt, blacktop, dirt, rocks, or any hard surface. Synthetic surfaces shall follow manufacturers' guidelines for depth.Effective: 09/01/2005
R.C. 119.032 review dates: 03/31/2005 and 01/31/2010
CERTIFIED ELECTRONICALLY
Certification
07/25/2005
Date
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 5104.011
Rule Amplifies: 5104.011
Prior Effective Dates: 3/1/81, 6/1/84, 9/1/86, 1/2/92 (Emer.), 4/1/92, 4/1/03
Document Information
- Effective Date:
- 9/1/2005
- Five Year Review:
- Yes
- Rule File:
- 5101$2-12-14_PH_FF_A_RU_20050725_1125.pdf
- File Date:
- 2005-07-25
- Last Day in Effect:
- 2005-09-01
- Related Chapter/Rule NO.: (1)
- Ill. Adm. Code 5101:2-12-14. Outdoor play requirements for licensed child care centers