Illinois Administrative Code › Title 89 - SOCIAL SERVICES › Part 407 - LICENSING STANDARDS FOR DAY CARE CENTERS › Subpart I - SEVERABILITY OF THIS PART › Appendix B - Equipment for Preschool Children

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 28, July 12, 2024
MINIMUM
				EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES:
PRESCHOOL
				PROGRAMS
This list of minimum equipment and supplies and
				their arrangement is not intended to define nor limit any program's
				philosophical approach. A minimum quantity and variety of materials is required
				to stimulate the development of preschool children. This list takes into
				account the following characteristics of preschool children:
* short attention span
* needs for
				active and quiet play over a short time period
* need
				to learn through concrete activities
Unless otherwise noted, the
				same item may fit into more than one category. For example, a particular
				cognitive game may be acceptable under the "Small Muscle" category or the
				"Cognitive" category. A center may choose under which category to count an
				item, but may not count an item under more than one category.
Numbers of children refer to licensed capacity, not enrollment or
				attendance.
CATEGORY
ITEM/AMOUNT
FURNITURE
1) Tables and Chairs -
				Sufficient tables and chairs with backs for the children (one chair per child,
				no folding chairs), plus chairs with backs for staff.
2) One cot
				per child for programs that operate at least 5 hours per day.
3)
				One cot with blanket (for ill child).
4) Shelving - Low open
				shelves and bookcases with one foot of shelving per child.
5)
				Personal Storage Space - Individual spaces for coats, boots and personal
				items.
6) Area rug or carpeting for each group, or individual
				carpet squares or cushions for each child to sit on.
LARGE MUSCLE - INDOORS
1)
				Building Blocks - 20 large, durable building blocks per each group of 10 or
				fewer children.
2) Large-Muscle Equipment - 2 pieces of durable
				large-muscle equipment for every group of 10 or fewer children; 3 pieces for
				groups of 11 to 20 children. Examples include a climber, rocking boat, tunnel,
				walking plank, riding toys.
SMALL
				MUSCLE
1) Small Blocks - Small blocks, including
				blocks that grip or lock together and other blocks that can be used for
				building. At least 100 pieces per group of 10 or fewer children, plus 10 blocks
				per child for each child over 10 children.
2) Manipulative Toys -
				One toy for every 3 children. Examples include pegboards with pegs, bead and
				string sets, nesting blocks.
3) Art Materials - A sufficient
				supply of art materials so that each child can participate daily, including:
				clay or other molding material; tempera paints with paint brushes and paper;
				finger paints (non-toxic) with paper; paper, paste, blunt scissors and crayons;
				collage materials; and aprons or smocks.
4) Easels - Two easels or
				one double easel for each group of 20 or fewer children.
5)
				Puzzles - One puzzle for every 2 children.
SOCIAL/EXPRESSIVE/LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
1) Dramatic Play - At least 6 sets of equipment plus accessories usable
				for dramatic/pretend play for a group of 10 or fewer children. At least 9 sets
				for a group of 11 to 20 children. More than one of the same set may be included
				in the number provided. Each set should have adequate pieces for use by at
				least 3 children at once. Some examples of sets are:
Doll bed with
				dolls
Kitchen sets (stove and/or sink and/or refrigerator and/or
				cupboard) with pots, pans, dishes, etc.
At least 5 transportation
				toys of any size, with pretend road, buildings, etc. (May be blocks)
Puppet stage with puppets
Sand or water table (dish pans are
				acceptable) with accessories (scoops, buckets, etc.)
Dress-up
				clothes hung on safe hooks or in a wardrobe, mirror, etc.
2) Music
				Items
Rhythm band or other group of instruments to be played by
				children (one instrument for every 2 children).
One record player,
				cassette player or compact disc player per group, with at least 10 records,
				cassettes or compact disks.
3) Flannel Board/Velcro Board - One
				board per group, with accessories.
4) Language Development
				Pictures.
COGNITIVE
				DEVELOPMENT
1) Science Items - Five science
				items, such as magnets, magnifying glasses, pets, plants, etc., per group of 10
				or fewer children, plus one for every 2 children in groups larger than
				10.
2) Books - At least 20 books per group of 10 or fewer
				children, plus 2 books per child for groups larger than 10. All books need not
				be displayed at all times; child care staff may rotate books on display.
3) Cognitive Games - Five cognitive games to teach number concepts,
				letter, shape, size and color concepts per group of 10 or fewer children, plus
				one game for every 2 children in groups larger than 10.
LARGE MUSCLE - OUTDOORS
In the
				following chart, the numbers of children refer to 1/4 of the center's licensed
				capacity
OR
the number of children who use the playground at any
				one time, whichever is greater. Playgrounds are required to accommodate at
				least 1/4 of the center's licensed capacity. However, some playgrounds are big
				enough to accommodate more than 1/4 of the licensed capacity. A center licensed
				for 40 children with a playground that can accommodate 10 children would need
				enough equipment for 10 children, while a center licensed for 40 children with
				a large playground that all 40 children use at once would need adequate
				equipment for 40 children.
LARGE
				EQUIPMENT
MEDIUM EQUIPMENT
SMALL EQUIPMENT
Two items from this column for every 20 or fewer children
Plus
One item from this column
				for every 10 or fewer children
Plus
One item from this column for every 7 or fewer children
climber*
slide
sand box
building
				blocks/
pieces (set of 40 large blocks)
water play
equipment (water trough, hose,
				sprinkler, etc.)
wheel toy (tricycle,
wagon, etc.)
balance beam
tunnel
rocking boat
etc.
ball
jump rope
hula hoop
etc.
* On a large climber with
				several sections, each section counts as one item.
EXAMPLE: A
				center with 37 children using the playground at the same time would require: 4
				items from the large equipment column; 4 items from the medium equipment
				column; and 6 items from the small equipment column.
NOTE: Indoor
				large muscle equipment may also be counted as outdoor equipment if it is
				available outdoors when the children are outdoors.
Programs that
				operate for 3 hours per day or less and provide outdoor play, programs that
				carry equipment to a remote outdoor play area and programs with playgrounds
				serving fewer than 20 children may substitute for the large equipment as
				follows: one medium equipment item for every 3 children, plus one small
				equipment item for every 7 children OR one small equipment item for each
				child.