Does the state licensing regulation have a definition for screen time?
Licensed Family Home Child Care
"Screen time" means watching, using or playing television, computers, video games, video or DVD players, mobile communication devices, and similar devices. Wash. Admin. Code § 170-296A-0010.
Licensed School Age Child Care
"Screen time" means watching, using or playing television, computers, video games, video or DVD players, mobile communication devices, and similar devices. Wash. Admin. Code § 170-297-0010.
Does the state licensing regulation have a requirement for the provider to review screen time content?
Licensed Family Home Child Care
If the licensee or staff provide screen time for children in care, the screen time must be educational, and developmentally and age appropriate; have child-appropriate content; and not have violent or adult content. Wash. Admin. Code § 170-296A-6650.
Licensed School Age Child Care
When the child care program provides screen time for children in care, the screen time must: be educational, developmentally and age appropriate; have child-appropriate content; and not have violent or adult content. Wash. Admin. Code § 170-297-6650.
Does the state licensing regulation have time restrictions on screen time?
Licensed Family Home Child Care
The licensee or staff must limit screen time for any child to less than two hours per day during operating hours. Wash. Admin. Code § 170-296A-6675(1).
Licensed School Age Child Care
The licensee or staff must: limit screen time for any child to no more than one hour per week, except when children are completing homework assignments. Wash. Admin. Code § 170-297-6675(1).
Does the state licensing regulation limit screen time during sleep or naptime?
No
Does the state licensing regulation require a written policy and/ or parent notification of screen time standards?
Licensed Family Home Child Care
The licensee must have and post a typical daily schedule that includes program activities. The typical daily schedule must include: types of activities including screen time. Wash. Admin. Code § 170-296A-6550(1)(2)(b).
Licensed School Age Child Care
The written parent/guardian policies (handbook) must include: the program's policy on use of media such as movies, television, computers and music, in child learning and development. Wash. Admin. Code § 170-297-2375(7).
A typical daily schedule must be posted that includes program activities. The typical daily schedule must include: types of activities, including screen time. Wash. Admin. Code § 170-297-6550(1)(2)(b).
Does the state licensing regulation limit screen time during mealtimes?
No
Are there any other state licensing regulations relating to screen time?
Licensed Family Home Child Care
The licensee or staff must not require children to participate in screen time. Wash. Admin. Code § 170-296A-6675(2).
The licensee or staff must provide alternative activities to screen time. Wash. Admin. Code § 170-296A-6675(3).
The licensee or staff must place children at least three feet from a television screen. Wash. Admin. Code § 170-296A-6675(4).
The licensee must minimize exposure to screen time for any child under the age of two by: providing alternative activities for the child; moving the child away from direct view of the screen; and positioning the child so the child is not able to view the screen. Wash. Admin. Code § 170-296A-6700.
Licensed School Age Child Care
The licensee or staff must not require children to participate in screen time. Wash. Admin. Code § 170-297-6675(2).
The licensee or staff must provide alternative activities to screen time. Wash. Admin. Code § 170-297-6675(3).
The licensee or staff must place the television screen at least three feet from the children. Wash. Admin. Code § 170-297-6675(4).
Regulations current through May 2017. For a PDF of the 50-state dataset, click here (this is a large document - you may need to use the zoom function in order to read it).