(a) Program. Staff shall plan and provide experiences that meet children's needs and stimulate learning in all developmental areas, including physical, social, emotional, and cognitive, regardless of gender.
- (1) The center has current weekly lesson plans appropriate for the developmental needs of each group of children.
- (2) Each child is viewed by staff as a unique person with an individual pattern of growth and development.
- (3) The center has a variety of learning areas, for example, areas for dramatic play, blocks, books, art, and science.
- (4) Children are provided opportunities to work individually or in small, informal groups most of the day and permitted to choose staff-directed or self-selected activities or not to participate.
- (5) If preschool children are involved in potentially dangerous activities, all requirements contained in OAC 340:110-3-25.2(c)(5) are met.
- (6) Television and videos, if used, are age-appropriate and used with discretion and selectivity.
(b) Schedule. To ensure a flexible program, a variety of activities are chosen that includes time for indoor and outdoor play, rest periods, and meals. A daily schedule is posted and followed with reasonable regularity.
(c) Interactions between staff and children. Staff:
- (1) actively seek meaningful conversations with children and talk about events of importance;
- (2) are available and responsive to children, for example, encouraging them to share experiences, ideas, and feelings, and listening to them with attention and respect; and
- (3) describe problem situations to encourage children to evaluate a problem rather than imposing an adult solution.