Table 2.
State Licensing Regulations Related to Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Media Use for Preschool-Aged Children in Child Care Facilities, 50 US States and the District of Columbia, January-April, 2006a
| Regulation | No. (%) of Child Care Centers, Statesb | No. (%) of Large Family/Group Child Care Homesc, Statesb | No. (%) of Small Family Child Care Homesd, Statesb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nutrition | |||
| Meals and snacks should follow federal CACFP or similar meal pattern requirements | 29 (57) AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CT, DE, GA, HI, IA, IL, LA, MD, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, NH, NM, OH, OK, OR, SC, TN, UT, VA, WI, WV |
24 (47) AK, AL, AR, AZ, CT, DE, GA, HI, IA, IL, MA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NH, NM, OH, OK, OR, SC, TN, UT |
20 (39) AK, AL, DE, HI, IL, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NH, NM, OK, OR, SC, TN, WA, WI, WV |
| Meals and snacks should be consistent with Dietary Guidelines for Americans | 2 (4) MI, WV |
1 (2) WV |
0 |
| Specify proportion of children's daily nutrition needs to be offered per meal or by length of time in care | 14 (27) CO, IL, LA, ME, MN, NC, NV, OH, OK, OR, SD, TX, WV, WY |
8 (16) CO, IL, NV, OH, OK, SD, TX, WY |
6 (12) CO, IL, NV, OK, TX, WY |
| Specify no. of meals and snacks to be served in comprehensive increments of time in care, up to a full day | 19 (37) AZ, CA, CT, DE, HI, IL, KS, MA, MD, MI, MN, MS, NC, NY, OH, TN, TX, WA, WI |
11 (22) CT, HI, IL, KS, MS, MT, NE, NY, OH, TN, TX |
9 (18) HI, IL, MT, NE, NY, TN, TX, WA, WI |
| Have policy prohibiting or limiting foods of low nutritional value | 12 (24) GA, IA, IL, IN, LA, MS, NC, NJ, NV, OR, TN, WA |
7 (14) AZ, GA, MS, NV, OR, TN, WV |
4 (8) NV, OR, TN, VT |
| Have policy on vending machines | 4 (8) AL, GA, LA, MS |
2 (4) GA, MS |
0 |
| Physical activity | |||
| Require that activity program of child care facility provide large muscle or gross motor activity, development, and/or equipment | 39 (76) AL, AZ, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY |
25 (49) AR, AZ, CO, CT, DE, GA, HI, IA, IL, KY, MA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, TX, VT, WV, WY |
19 (37) CO, CT, DC, DE, HI, IL, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, OK, OR, PA, TX, WA, WI, WV |
| Require that children have daily outdoor activity time, weather and health permitting | 36 (71) AK, AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IL, IN, KS, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV |
27 (53) AK, AL, AR, CO, CT, DE, GA, IL, IN, KS, MA, MI, MO, MS, MT, ND, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV |
24 (47) AK, AL, CO, DC, DE, GA, IL, KY, MA, MI, MO, MT, NC, ND, NV, NY, OR, PA, RI, TN, TX, WA, WI, WV |
| Quantify required minimum length of time for daily outdoor activity | 9 (18) AR, DC, GA, KS, ME, MO, MS, VA, WV |
5 (10) AR, GA, KS, MO, MS |
2 (4) DC, MO |
| Specify that children shall be engaged in vigorous or moderatee physical activity | 8 (16) AK, DE, HI, LA, MD, MT, NC, TN |
4 (8) AK, HI, VA, WV |
2 (4) AK, HI |
| Quantify required no. of minutes of physical activity per day or by length of time in care | 1 (2) AK |
2 (4) AK, MA |
2 (4) AK, MA |
| Media use | |||
| Define appropriate inclusion of media in child care program of activities, in a nonquantified manner | 11 (22) AL, CO, GA, IL, IN, SC, TN, TX, VT, WI, WV |
9 (18) CO, GA, MI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WV |
7 (14) CO, GA, MI, TN, TX, WA, WI |
| Quantify maximum amount of time for media use each day or week | 7 (14) AK, GA, ME, MS, NM, TN, VT |
9 (18) AK, DE, GA, MI, MS, NM, OR, TN, VT |
8 (16) AK, DE, GA, MI, NM, OR, TN, VT |
Abbreviation: CACFP, Child and Adult Care Food Program.
This analysis includes mandatory licensing regulations that pertain to preschool-aged children (typically defined by states as children aged 3 to 5 years) attending child day care centers or homes. Specific regulations for infants, toddlers, school-aged children, residential care, and special needs care are excluded. Regulations from January through April 2006 were downloaded from state Web sites and analyzed.
Percentages are calculated using 51 as the denominator; analysis includes 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Typically 7 to 12 children. The District of Columbia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin do not classify this type of facility and instead have 1 classification of Family Child Care Home; therefore they do not appear in this category. However, Maryland, North Carolina, and Wisconsin allow up to 8 children and Maine and Washington allow up to 12 children in family homes. Family home licensing regulations for these states are reflected in the Small Family Child Care Homes category in this table.
Typically 6 or fewer children. States with voluntary licensing, certification, or registration for small family child care homes are not included in this analysis.
No states used the term moderate to describe physical activity level.