[Breanna]

I learned that there is a lot of requirements to comply with the standards in my state. I also learned that each wac is important as it helps keep each and every child safe. I was interested in the fact that restraint can be used if the child`s safety or the safety of others is at risk. I find this very smart as it is an important rule in keeping everyone safe.

[Ivonne]

1. I wasn’t aware just how many laws and guidelines are in place in order to run an early learning childhood program. The laws are very specific and it is so important that they are followed. As a mom myself, it makes me glad that these laws exist because it creates a safer environment for children and their families.

2. I was surprised to find out that animals and pets are allowed in early learning programs as long as they meet and follow the pet policy set in place. I find this pretty cool because I am an animal lover and I think that by doing it the right way, children learn a lot about the world by learning about animals.

3. I can definitely see how the WACs will influence my day-to-day routine when caring for children because from the start of the day to the end there are standards that must be met. The WACs cover everything from attendance, records, health, learning environment, nutrition, and many other topics. It is essential to keep these guideline in mid all the time to ensure safety and good relationships with he families.

[Maryam]

The WACs outline specific rules and regulations governing various aspects of child care in Washington State, including licensing requirements, health and safety standards, staff qualifications, child-to-staff ratios, program requirements, and more. While I cannot provide specific details about individual WACs discovered during an activity, I can say that they cover a wide range of topics aimed at ensuring the well-being, safety, and quality of care for children in child care settings.

It’s possible that some WACs may contain provisions or requirements that could be surprising or unfamiliar to individuals who are not familiar with child care regulations in Washington State. For example, specific rules regarding staff qualifications, training requirements, or facility standards may vary from what individuals are accustomed to in other jurisdictions.

Understanding and adhering to the WACs are essential for professionals working in child care settings as they directly influence day-to-day practices in caring for children. Compliance with these regulations helps ensure the safety, health, and overall quality of care provided to children. Professionals need to be aware of the requirements outlined in the WACs and integrate them into their daily routines and decision-making processes to maintain compliance and promote the well-being of the children in their care.

[weiwei]

I found every detail explained and detailed in WAC lows families to receive high quality care and early learning environment.

2 I was surprised by how comprehensive WAC is .All potential issues are covered in WAC.

3 WAC educates us on how to respond to each specific situation and how to protect children’s safety in different situations..

[Kianna Malmer Loness]

1. What did you discover about the WACs while completing the activity? Reading theses regulations and guidelines made me realize how much goes into the process and the behind the scenes of running a daycare smoothing and correctly along with also having the child’s safety along with their parents and their teachers.
2. Were you surprised by any of the WACs? The WAC that definitely surprised me was Physical Restraint, I was very shocked to see that was even allowed, I would hope to never be in the situation to have to use it but to know that if children or my own safety was at risk that this is an appropriate way to deal with it definitely surprised me.
3. Can you see how the WACs will influence your day-to-day practice in caring for children? Why or why not? I can definitely see that it will help with with my day to day, there is a lot of good tips and tricks along with rules that are very helpful to be able to stay safe along with having the children safe. And to keep these in the back of my head definitely makes it easier for everyone

[Graci]

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1. I discovered that the WACs are set up very clearly of the understandings and expectations. It plays into how to create a safe, supportive learning environment for both teachers, children, and their families.

2. Though most of the WACs made sense to me, some caught me by surprise such as the animal regulations.

3. Yes! I totally can, because it has me reflect on creating meaningful interactions and learning experiences between the children. It also allows me to think about the safety, well-being and overall healthy development for each individual child.

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[Kayla]

1. I found that each section of the WAC has a explanation to show how to create a safe space for children to learn and explore freely and in a space that promotes excitement and fun.

2. I was not expecting to see animal regulations but considering that we live in a very wilderness forward space, it makes a lot of sense. There are a lot of things that I expected to be on the WACs as well but this one stood out to me the most.

3. Yes, I can see using these practices in my day-to-day life because there are so many situations that come up on a daily basis that you really have to think on your feet for and so it is nice to now have structure.

[Oskar]

1. What did you discover about the WACs while completing the activity? I discovered there is a whole list of definitions which I found very helpful.
2. Were you surprised by any of the WACs? Not really, I feel like most of the concepts were covered in training or the handbook.
3. Can you see how the WACs will influence your day-to-day practice in caring for children? Why or why not? I can definitely see how they affect my day-to-day practice. I interreact with the food and nutrition WACs almost every day, for example.

[Kami]

1. What did you discover about the WACs while completing the activity? Honestly, I think what I learned the most is that there are so many requirements and so much information that needs to be learned in order to take care of these kids, much more than I thought at least. I appreciate how thorough this program is when it comes to the volunteers/employees/centers and even kids. It is so important to make sure kids are getting taken care of in a healthy matter.
2. Were you surprised by any of the WACs? in WAC 110-300-0465 I thought is was interesting that the curriculum planning schedule was a part of the retaining facility and program awards WAC.
3. Can you see how the WACs will influence your day-to-day practice in caring for children? Why or why not? Oh, of course! I can definitely see how it will influence my day-to-day. It is so important how these children are taken care of, so making sure I am learning as much as I can and being equipped is extremely important. These WACs are very helpful and important for further knowledge in this profession.

[Analicia Garcia]

What did you discover about the WACs while completing the activity?

-I learned the difference between WAC’S & RCW’S. WAC’S intent is to create a set of policies to govern the licensing standards for child care center.

Were you surprised by any of the WACs?

-No, I think they are great policies to effectively run a child care center and good to refer back to.

Can you see how the WACs will influence your day-to-day practice in caring for children? Why or why not?

-Yes, Policies in place set a standard for employees and employers to have and meet any requirements.

[Samantha Lucey]

1. What did you discover about the WACs while completing the activity? There is a lot of responsibility when it comes to working in a daycare or child care facility. Not just for the higher ups or the owners but for anyone employed.
2. Were you surprised by any of the WACs? I think the physical restraint makes a lot of sense, definitely wasn’t super surprising.
3. Can you see how the WACs will influence your day-to-day practice in caring for children? Why or why not? I can definitely see it having a more positive practice for any parent, as I am a mom of 2, I feel I practiced a lot of these already.

[Jose Antonio Montor Torres]

1. What did you discover about the WACs while completing the activity? <strong style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color); background-color: var(–bb-content-background-color);”>I discover a lot of terms and meaning of them.
2. Were you surprised by any of the WACs? Yes, I am very surprise that the state has many regulations and requirement.
3. Can you see how the WACs will influence your day-to-day practice in caring for children? Why or why not? The WAC’s will help me in how to work with the children in my care because I have to follow each of them in order to do a great job with the kids and with there parents and to do an excellent job.

[allie]

During the activity, I discovered that the Washington Administrative Code (WACs) provide comprehensive guidelines and regulations governing various aspects of early childhood education and childcare. I found the specificity of certain WACs to be surprising, particularly regarding staff-to-child ratios, health and safety standards, and curriculum requirements. Understanding and adhering to these regulations will undoubtedly influence my day-to-day practice in caring for children. Compliance with WACs ensures that I maintain a safe and nurturing environment for children, follow best practices in curriculum planning and implementation, and prioritize the well-being and development of each child. By aligning my practices with the WACs, I can ensure that I am providing high-quality care and education that meets the standards set forth by the state, ultimately benefiting the children and families I serve.

[Mackenzie]

1. What did you discover about the WACs while completing the activity? I discovered that there are much more inspection requirements than I would have thought of. It impresses me that there is such detailed rules and regulations in regard to working in childcare.
2. Were you surprised by any of the WACs? Some of the safety testing surprised me such as the lead and copper testing. It is just things I never would’ve thought about.
3. Can you see how the WACs will influence your day-to-day practice in caring for children? Why or why not? I can see how some of the WACs will play into day-to-day practices, however many of them will not be used often but are more so safety procedures that will be implemented as needed.

[Ana]

1. I discovered that they’re a lot of requirements to be followed in order to be set up for the Washington State standards.

2. Somethings that surprised me were WAC 100-300-0005 has definitions for things I did not necessarily think were important to working in childcare. Such as “Transgender”,” Bisexual” and ” Gender Fluid”. Nothing negatively but was a bit caught off guard. If it is anything I am assuming it is a good idea to learn these things as every family is different and that’s ok! I think it is great to introduce these words to people, it brings some sort of comfort and creates a safety net for those who are in that community.

3. Yes! Absolutely. It is a lot to learn, however reading through these gave me a different perspective on the WAC.