R381-60-11. Child Supervision and Security

  (1) The provider shall ensure that caregivers provide and maintain active supervision of each child at all times.

  (2) Active supervision shall include:

  (a) for children younger than 5 years of age, the caregiver shall be physically present in the room or area with the children;

  (b) for school-age children, the caregiver shall be able to hear the children and be close enough to intervene;

  (c) caregivers shall know the number of children in their care at all times;

  (d)caregivers' attention shall be focused on the children and not on caregivers' personal interests;

  (e) caregivers shall be aware of the entire group of children even when interacting with a smaller group or an individual child; and

  (f) caregivers shall position themselves so all children in their assigned group are actively supervised.

  (3) When video cameras and mirrors are used to supervise napping children:

  (a) the napping room shall be adjacent to a non-napping room;

  (b) there shall be a staff member in the non-napping room;

  (c) cameras or mirrors shall be positioned so that every child can be seen;

  (d) the staff member shall be able to see and hear each child;

  (e) there shall be an open door without a barrier, such as a gate, between the napping room and the non-napping room; and

  (f) children who wake up shall be moved to the non-napping room.

  (4) A blanket or other item shall not be placed over sleeping equipment in such a way that prevents the caregiver from seeing the sleeping child.

  (5) Whenever a child is in care, the child's parent shall have access to their child and the areas used to care for their child.

  (6) To maintain security and supervision of children, the provider shall ensure that:

  (a) each child is signed in and out;

  (b) only parents or persons with written authorization from the parent may sign out a child;

  (c) photo identification is required if the individual signing the child in or out is unknown to the provider;

  (d) persons signing children in and out use identifiers, such as a signature, initials, or electronic code;

  (e) the sign-in and sign-out records include the date and time each child arrives and leaves; and

  (f) there is written permission from their parents if school-age children sign themselves in and out.

  (7) In an emergency, the caregiver shall accept the parent's verbal authorization to release a child when the caregiver can confirm the identity of:

  (a) the person giving verbal authorization, and

  (b) the person picking up the child.

  (8) A six-week record of each child's daily attendance, including sign-in and sign-out records, shall be kept on-site for review by the Department.