N.H. Code Admin. R. He-C 6917.12

Current through Register No. 24, June 13, 2024

Section He-C 6917.12 - Child Development

(a) During the operating hours of child care, parents shall have the opportunity to communicate with the provider who cares for their child.

(b) Children shall be within sight or hearing of child care providers at all times.

(c) Provided that written permission is on file, a provider may allow school-age children 72 months and older to play outside when a provider is inside, or to leave the premises of the provider, unsupervised, to participate in a specific activity.

(d) Providers shall not leave infants or toddlers unattended in seating, carrying, or in holding devices such as car seats or infant seats placed on counter tops, tables, or other elevated surfaces.

(e) Providers shall provide toys, equipment, and learning materials that are:

(1) Available and accessible to children;

(2) Safe and in good repair;

(3) Cleaned on a regular basis; and

(4) Developmentally appropriate.

(f) Infants shall not be placed in any equipment which requires them to support their heads on their own if they have not yet developed the ability to do so.

(g) Baby walkers with wheels shall be prohibited.

(h) Providers shall not allow children younger than 3 years of age to have access to toys, toy parts, and other materials which pose a choking risk or are small enough to be swallowed, such as, but not limited to, coins, balloons, or exposed foam padding.

(i) Providers shall provide daily opportunity for outdoor physical activity in the absence of extreme weather.

(j) All media, including television, video, or electronic devices shall be age and developmentally appropriate, and providers shall comply with parental restrictions regarding the use of electronic media for their child.

(k) Providers shall nurture and encourage each child in care by providing each child with a variety of developmentally appropriate learning and social experiences and establishing and maintaining a learning environment that provides for the emotional well-being of each child.

(l) When a child is engaging in unacceptable behavior, providers shall:

(1) Establish developmentally appropriate rules or limits for acceptable behavior, which are equitable and consistently applied;

(2) Redirect a child's attention to a desirable activity by providing positive guidance, positively worded directions, and developmentally appropriate explanations for the limits and rules referenced in (1) above;

(3) Demonstrate desired behavior and problem-solving skills and then redirect children to acceptable behavior;

(4) Arrange equipment, materials, activities, and schedules in a way that promotes desirable behavior; and

(5) Implement safe, logical, and natural consequences related to the misbehavior and enforcing those consequences as soon as possible after the misbehavior has occurred.

(m) Separation, or time out, shall only be used as a method to enable a child to regain control of themselves, not as punishment, and as follows:

(1) Separation shall be brief and appropriate to the child's developmental level and circumstances;

(2) When a child is separated from the group, the child shall be:

a. Able to see and hear the other children; and

b. Within hearing and sight of a provider.

(n) Providers and household members shall not:

(1) Abuse or neglect children;

(2) Use rough handling on children;

(3) Use corporal punishment on children;

(4) Require children to stand or sit facing walls or corners;

(5) Withhold food from children, forcibly feed children, or discipline children for not eating;

(6) Shame, humiliate, threaten, or frighten children;

(7) Discipline children for toileting accidents, lapses in toileting habits, or prohibit children from using the toilet as a form of punishment;

(8) Use isolation as a form of discipline on children;

(9) Yell in anger or frustration at or with children;

(10) Discipline children for not sleeping at rest or nap time;

(11) Direct profanity or obscene language at children or use profanity or obscene language in the presence of children;

(12) Require children to sleep, rest, go to their cot, mat, bed, or playpen or other sleeping or rest facilities, as a form of discipline;

(13) Confine infants or toddlers in highchairs or other seating devices or equipment, which restricts movement, as a form of discipline; or

(14) Place or confine children in equipment that is not appropriate for their age, including but not limited to cribs, playpens, or highchairs;

(o) Providers shall develop and implement a written policy to address the limitations of expelling children from child care for challenging behaviors.

(p) The policy in (o) above shall address at a minimum:

(1) The steps the provider will take to assist the child in maintaining enrollment prior to expelling the child for challenging behaviors;

(2) Parental notification requirements regarding their child's challenging behavior; and

(3) The responsibilities of the provider if the challenging behavior results in a serious safety risk to the child or others within child care.

(q) The written policy in (o) above shall be provided to parents at enrollment.

(r) The expulsion policy in (o) above shall only apply when addressing a child's behavior and not a parent's misconduct or the parent's failure to comply with other rules or laws.

N.H. Code Admin. R. He-C 6917.12

#12536, eff 5-24-18

Amended by Number 23, Filed June 8, 2023, Proposed by #13650, Effective 5/25/2023, Expires 5/25/2033.