Rule 5180:2-13-19 | Supervision of children and child guidance for a licensed family child care provider.
(A) What are the requirements for supervision for a licensed family child care provider and child care staff members?
The family child care provider and each child care staff member shall:
(1) Leave no child unsupervised. Supervision means:
(a) Ensuring children are within sight or hearing at all times.
(b) Being aware of the developmental and behavioral needs as well as parental preferences of the child(ren) in care.
(c) Maintaining situational awareness of the children in care for at all times. Maintaining situational awareness may include the use of analog or digital technology (including mirrors) to supplement direct observation of the children in care but may not be the sole means of observation. It also includes, but is not limited to, being:
(i) Aware of the activity a child is engaged in and being near enough to protect children from harm, meet their basic needs and respond to emergency circumstances.
(ii) Near enough to observe, respond and anticipate reasonably foreseeable hazards and threats.
(iii) Able to summon another adult for assistance in an emergency.
(2) Not be under the influence of any substance that impairs the provider or child care staff member's ability to supervise children and/or perform duties.
(3) Always have immediate access to a working phone on the premises which is available and capable of making outgoing calls and receiving incoming calls. A backup method of communication, including but not limited to email, text messaging services or an additional phone is to be accessible when the primary phone is in use.
(4) Only release a child to the parent or to a person who has been previously approved by the parent.
(5) Limit children's exposure to inappropriate language, behavior or media. This includes inappropriate actions by the following, but not limited to, non-staff adults, parents, residents and other children.
(6) Supervise outdoor play.
(a) The provider or child care staff member shall remain outdoors with infants, toddlers and preschoolers at all times.
(b) School-age children may be permitted in the on-site outdoor play space without the provider or child care staff as long as the children remain within sight and hearing of the provider or child care staff if both of the following occur:
(i) The children are not engaged in higher risk activities such as but not limited to swimming, activities with animals or using equipment with motors or moving parts.
(ii) The provider or child care staff member are always able to intervene if needed.
(c) When the outdoor play space is not on the premises, the provider or child care staff member shall accompany and supervise all children in transit and at the outdoor play space.
(B) What are the requirements for supervision of school-age children?
(1) With written parent permission, school-age children may leave the provider's home for specific activities, including:
(a) Walking to and from the provider's home or school.
(b) Walking home or to another destination.
(2) The written permission shall specify:
(a) Child's name.
(b) Location of the activity.
(c) Arrangements for going to and from the activity.
(d) Start and end time of the activity.
(e) Time period for when the permission is given.
(f) Parent's signature and date.
(C) What are the child guidance techniques to be used in the licensed family child care home?
(1) The provider, child care staff members and substitutes shall follow appendix A to this rule regarding guidance techniques to be used with children.
(2) The provider shall communicate and consult with the parent prior to implementing a specific behavior management plan. This plan shall be in writing, signed by the parent and shall be consistent with the requirements of this rule.
(3) When a child is expelled from the family child care home for a behavioral reason, the expulsion is to be reported in the Ohio statewide licensing system in accordance with paragraph (G) of rule 5180:2-13-16 of the Administrative Code.
(D) What are the child abuse and/or neglect reporting requirements?
The provider, employee or child care staff member who has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been abused or neglected is to immediately make a report in accordance with section 2151.421 of the Revised Code.
Last updated July 1, 2026 at 8:37 AM
Supplemental Information
Amplifies: 5104.017, 5104.018, 5104.01
Five Year Review Date: 7/1/2031
Prior Effective Dates: 4/1/1982, 5/20/1983, 9/1/1986, 9/5/1986, 2/15/1988, 5/1/1989, 10/1/1997 (Emer.), 12/30/1997, 4/1/2003, 7/1/2003, 9/1/2005, 1/1/2007, 8/14/2008, 7/1/2010, 9/29/2011, 12/1/2011, 1/1/2014, 12/31/2016, 10/29/2021