California Code § 101229(a): Care and Supervision Duty

❌ Common Mistakes

• Stepping away to answer the door or take a phone call and leaving children unsupervised for 'just a minute.' Inspectors conducting unannounced visits often arrive at exactly these moments. Even 60 seconds without line-of-sight to the children can result in a documented deficiency.
• Assuming older children in a mixed-age group can supervise younger ones. Providers rely on a responsible 8-year-old to watch toddlers during bathroom breaks, but CCLD requires adult supervision at all times. A child is never an acceptable substitute for an adult caregiver.
• Not adjusting supervision levels for high-risk activities like water play, cooking projects, or outdoor time near streets. Providers maintain the same passive supervision during arts and crafts as they do during water table play. Inspectors expect heightened, active supervision whenever the activity involves elevated risk.
• Focusing on paperwork, cleaning, or meal prep while children are in active play. Inspectors note what the provider is doing when they arrive. If you're washing dishes with your back to the play area, that's documented as inadequate supervision even if nothing bad happened.