• The Florida day-care laws cover everything from outdoor play time to the dispensing of prescription medication.Painting girl image by Vaidas Bucys from Fotolia.com
  
  The Florida Administrative Code, Chapters 65C 20, 22 and 25, in addition to Florida Statutes Sections 402.26-402.319 deal with the requirements and regulations governing day-care establishments in the state of Florida. These laws cover an array of regulations, including the operation of a day-care facility and training for day-care workers.
  
  

License

• Anyone wishing to operate a day care in their home or in another location must apply for and be granted a license. There are different types of licenses in Florida, depending on whether you want to run the day care out of a home or separate facility. In addition, you may need additional licensure to care for special needs children or run an after-school program. In addition to completing a Family Child Care training course and a CPR course, you need fill out the application through the Florida Department of Children & Families.
  
  

Day-care Worker Qualifications

• Any day-care worker who is employed by a licensed day-care agency or facility and is in charge of groups of children must be at least 18 years old and have completed a Department of Children & Families approved training course. This training course must include information on child development and care. All workers must then pass a competency exam and have at least 10 hours of in-service training at a licensed day care. All workers must also successfully pass a background screening, which finds her in good moral standing and suitable for work with children.
  
  

Supervision

• Children must be continuously supervised both indoors and outdoors. Children must not be isolated unless they are ill, in which case they must be within sight and sound of the day-care operator. No one who is in charge of supervising the children may be under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. If an adult smokes in a day-care private home, all parents must be notified in writing that someone smokes in the home before the child begins day care at that home.
  
  

Play Area

• Provided that the weather is good, children must be granted time to play outdoors in a safe location. The outdoor play area must not be adjacent or near an open road without a fence surrounding the play area that is at least 4 feet high. The area must be free from trash and harmful matter, such as broken glass. The operators must also provide children with outdoor play equipment, such as toys or games, which is appropriate for their age and development.
  
  

Furnishings

• All day-care homes or facilities must have safe furnishings that do not pose a hazard to young children. Stairs must have gates and electrical outlets must be closed. The facility must not pose any fire hazard and should always be clean. There must also be ample space and beds for children to take a nap. Additional required items include a first-aid kit, clean child toilets and a clean diaper changing table.
  
  

Fire Extinguisher and Temperature

• The temperature in the day-care facility must be maintained between 65 and 82 degrees. The facility must also have a working fire extinguisher and good ventilation.
  
  

Meals

• All day-care facilities must have a meal plan to provide healthy, nutritious and age appropriate meals for the children. If any child has a food allergy, the facility must accommodate that child by providing food that does not contain any allergens.
  
  

Transportation

• A driver who transports children to and from the day-care facility must have a valid driver’s license and insurance that provides for transportation of children in care. The transport vehicle must have adequate child safety devices, such as seat belts and car seats, if needed. During field trips, a supervisor must count all children as they exit and enter the vehicle, to ensure that no child is left behind at the field trip destination.
  
  

Health

• The facility must have a plan to properly and safely isolate a child who is ill while in care. Workers must report any child who becomes ill in care to his parent or guardian, and in the case of lice, a child must be lice treated before returning to care. Workers must treat all toys and furnishings for lice infection before other children can enter the home. Parents must bring prescribed medication in its original package and a written plan for how and when to dispense the medication. No non-prescription medication can be dispensed without written approval from a parent or guardian.