2026 Minnesota Statutes

142H.11 CHILD CARE PROGRAM PLAN AND ACTIVITIES.

Subdivision 1.General requirements.

The child care program plan must:

(1) include a statement mandating that children are supervised at all times as defined in section 142H.01, subdivision 38, and pursuant to the requirements of section 142H.24, subdivision 1;

(2) specify the age categories and number of children to be served by the program;

(3) specify the days and hours of operation of the program;

(4) describe the general educational methods to be used by the program and the religious, political, or philosophical basis, if any;

(5) be developed and evaluated in writing each calendar year by a program staff person qualified as a teacher or director under sections 142H.05 and 142H.06. Documentation of the evaluation, the date of the evaluation, and the signature of the teacher or director completing the evaluation must be maintained in the center administrative records;

(6) specify planned activities designed to support and nurture the whole child in all areas of the development and learning of the child, including but not limited to the following: intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development. The activities must be in a manner consistent with the cultural and ethnic backgrounds of a child, as feasible;

(7) specify that the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of each child be documented in the record of the child and conveyed to the parent during the conferences specified under section 142H.20, subdivision 2;

(8) include a daily schedule of planned indoor and outdoor activities for each age category served;

(9) specify activities that are quiet, active, teacher directed, and child initiated;

(10) specify a variety of activities that require the use of varied equipment and materials;

(11) include a schedule if equipment is rotated between groups of children;

(12) describe use of technology and screen time for each age category; and

(13) be available to a parent for review upon request.

Subd. 2.Outdoor activities.

(a) Child care activities must promote the physical, intellectual, social, and emotional development of the child. To facilitate child development, programs must include daily outdoor activities when weather conditions allow, as defined in this subdivision.

(b) The applicant must develop a written outdoor weather and activity policy. The license holder must ensure that the policies and procedures are carried out. The policies and procedures must incorporate guidance from national, state, or local authorities in public health and at a minimum require the provider to consider the following conditions when determining if outdoor play poses a health and safety risk:

(1) heat in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit accounting for heat index, or pursuant to advice of the local authority;

(2) cold less than 15 degrees Fahrenheit accounting for wind chill, or pursuant to advice of the local authority;

(3) extreme weather, including but not limited to a lightning storm, blizzard, tornado, or flooding;

(4) an air quality emergency order by a local or state authority on air quality or public health; or

(5) a lockdown notification ordered by a public safety authority.

(c) The center's outdoor weather and activity policy must specify, if children are to go outside beyond the temperature range specified in paragraph (b), clauses (1) and (2), what procedures will be used to keep the children safe, including but not limited to ensuring children have appropriate clothing, providing frequent indoor breaks, or matching the intensity of the activity level to the weather conditions.

(d) For toddlers, preschool, and school-age children attending four or more hours per day, the license holder must provide at least one opportunity for outdoor activity per day pursuant to paragraph (b).

(e) For infants attending four or more hours per day, the license holder must provide at least one opportunity for outdoor activity per day as practicable, pursuant to paragraph (b) and the individual needs of the infants in care.

(f) Programs operating three or fewer hours per day are exempt from the daily outdoor activity requirement.

(g) If the weather is not suitable for outdoor activities, the program must provide indoor gross motor play activities that support physical development.

History:

2026 c 127 art 12 s 11

NOTE: This chapter, as added by Laws 2026, chapter 127, article 12, sections 1 to 37, is effective July 1, 2027. Laws 2026, chapter 127, article 12, section 41.