FCCERS-R additional notes

Additional Notes for Clarification for the FCCERS-R
Most Recent Changes:
08-09: Much of the Day
06-10: Item 17, 20, 24
09-10: Much of the Day
12-10: Item 3, 16, 25
03-11: Item 17
Explanation of Terms Used Throughout the Scale:
Much of the day: In most items, "much of the day" is associated with the children‟s access to materials typically used indoors (e.g., books, art materials, fine motor or dramatic play toys). It means most of the time that any child maybe awake and able to play. If children are prevented from using materials for long periods by overly long routines when the children have to wait with nothing to do, being kept in groups that they are not engaged in, or being kept in areas where access is not possible, then credit cannot be given for "much of the day." Appropriate group activities in which children are engaged and interested for short periods that match their abilities are permissible as long as they do not significantly affect access to materials throughout the rest of the day. If children (or any child) who are ready to play are prevented from reaching and using materials for a total of 20 minutes during a 3-hour observation, then "much of the day" cannot be given credit. The 20 minutes can be calculated as one 20-minute time period, or may be calculated as a combination of smaller time periods that equal 20 minutes. "Much of the day" should be considered separately for each item where the requirement appears. In some cases credit might be given on one item for much of the day, while not given for another item.
If children are kept outdoors for extremely long periods (1/3 of the day or more), thus limiting access to materials typically used indoors, then to give credit for "much of the day", such materials must be provided outdoors as well. Special attention should be paid to individual children who may not have the same access to materials as do the other children. For example, non-mobile children or children who are confined in a playpen may not have the same access to play materials as the other children in a group. For non-mobile infants, all required toys or materials do not have to be accessible at the same time during the whole observation because of problems with clutter. However, there must be clear indications that the required variety and numbers of materials are accessible at various times during the day. A cranky baby who needs close physical contact to be soothed may not be "ready to play" and thus not require access to materials during the "cranky" times.
When children are taken for stroller rides, do not count the time spent riding as part of the 20 minutes when children do not have access to materials for "much of the day" as long as children are generally engaged (one child may be less engaged than others for some part of the ride, but most children should show interest, and no child should show distress), and the actual stroller ride is no longer than 20 minutes. Some children may fall asleep in the stroller, but in this case they are not awake and ready to play, so falling asleep should not count in the timing for much of the day. Sometimes there are delays in putting children into strollers, and after the walk, removing them. If children have to wait for long periods (over 3 minutes with no access to play materials) while waiting in the strollers, then the time waiting should be counted towards the 20 minute limit that will disallow crediting "much of the day."
Infants, Toddlers, Preschoolers, School-agers: When referring to "very young children," especially with regard to safety, we mean children under 3 years of age. Play: "Play," or "play activities," require that children are actively involved, able to use toys or other play materials, and are able to interact with others if they wish. Play activities should not be confused with more passive group times (such as circle times, when children mostly listen to a "teacher" or spend time watching TV or videos), or times when children are required to work on specific non-play tasks, such as coloring alphabet ditto sheets, and did not get to choose to do the activity. Play is characterized by the child being engaged. Routine care times are not counted as play, even if they are done playfully. Play activities can be part of free play, teacher- or child-initiated, either indoors or outdoors, offered with many choices of things to do or with a more limited selection, done individually, in small groups, or in a large group, and can be active or quiet. 1. Indoor space used for child care
5.2
7.1
The direct lighting must be in the space(s) used for child care for more than 50% of the time children are allowed to attend. Natural light is not required in spaces used for nap, but those spaces must have enough light to allow adequate visual supervision of children.
Ventilation should be able to be controlled in all spaces used for children (e.g., through heating/air conditioning systems, windows, opening doors, ceiling fans, etc).