• A daycare centre must have a total of at least 3 square metres of play area per child present.
• Until 1 January 2031, out-of-school centres must have at least 2.5 square metres of play area per child (from 2031, this will be 3 square metres).
• Each fixed group of children in the daycare centre (master group) has its own group area.
• If another area has been designated as a play area, this area will be divided proportionally among the groups and included in the total number of square metres of indoor area.
• Babies up to the age of 1.5 years have a separate sleeping area with sufficient fixed beds for the number of babies and good ventilation. Children older than 1.5 years must also have a place to rest, but this can also be in another area, using stretchers.
• A sleeping area only counts as a play area if there are no fixed beds and children can actually play there.
• The indoor area must be well ventilated to keep the air healthy

*Host parents must ensure that the indoor areas are safe, accessible and appropriately equipped for the number and the age of the children. In addition, the following applies:

• Indoor areas must be well ventilated and have healthy air.
• There must be enough space to play and sleep. Children under the age of 1.5 years require a separate sleeping area.

• The childcare location must have at least 3 square metres of outdoor play area per child present. This applies to both daycare and out-of-school care.
• The outdoor play area is shaded and adjacent to the building of the childcare.
• If the outdoor area is not directly adjacent to the building, it should be close by, safe and easily accessible for children.

*Host parents must ensure that the outdoor areas are safe, accessible and appropriately equipped. There must be sufficient outdoor play facilities, appropriate for the age and the number of children.

• A porch or patio may count as indoor play area, up to a maximum of 18 square metres, if it:
  • is attached directly to the building,
  • is solidly built and has a hard floor (i.e. no grass or sand),
  • is fenced and covered.
• If the porch does not comply with these rules but it does comply with the rules for outdoor areas, it counts as outdoor play area.
• A porch cannot be a separate group area. The porch can only be used as an extension of an indoor area for a group.

A well-designed indoor and outdoor area contributes directly to the learning and development of children:

• The play areas are attractively designed with varied play corners and materials that encourage play, discovery and learning. There is also space to rest and chill out.
• The design is tailored to the age and developmental stage of the children.
• The design stimulates language development, mathematics, motor skills and social-emotional growth.
• The environment is language-rich. The play-based learning environment offers plenty of opportunities to come into contact with language, like books, pictures, word cards, writing materials, and labels on the materials. This helps children to actively use and further develop language.