All out of home day care programs for seven or more children under 6 years of age must be licensed by the New York City Department of Health, Bureau of Day Care. According to New York City and State laws, parents must be able to see their children or take them out of the center at anytime. In order to best help the children learn and grow, the director and teaching staff of licensed centers must have special training and degrees in teaching young children. The staff should keep parents informed about their children's progress and problems. Parents should have a chance to discuss the policies and operations of the center.
Some centers also serve breakfast and lunch.
If lunch and snack are not served, parents must provide home-packed lunches and snacks and the center must have a refrigerator for storing them. Children attending full-day programs must have quiet, relaxed period of about one hour a day. The center must provide separate cots, cribs or mats for each child to rest. According to the New York City Department of Health, the center must require that children be up to date with their immunization and have regular health exams. The center must give parents specific instructions about when a sick child must be kept at home.