Illinois Daycare Rules on Screen Time and Outdoor Play

Updated November 2026.

Illinois daycare centers may not show screens to children under 2. Children 2 and older in care for 6 or more hours a day can have no more than 60 minutes of passive screen time a day, with each session capped at 30 minutes. The same rules call for at least two outdoor play times every day for children of all ages, weather permitting.

These limits come from the Illinois licensing standards for day care centers, now 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2008.200 under the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200 under DCFS). Here is what they say and what they look like in a real day.

Screen time rules for Illinois daycare centers

Under 2: no passive screen viewing.
Age 2 and older, in care 6 or more hours a day: up to 60 minutes a day of passive screen viewing, and it must be age-appropriate and educational.
Each session: no more than 30 minutes without a break.
Shorter days: children in programs of less than 6 hours get a proportionally smaller limit.
No TV or videos during meals or snacks.
Screen use must connect to the center's educational planning. Videos should be used for special events or specific goals, not as a daily routine, and children should have another activity to choose instead.

"Passive" screen time means watching, such as a show or a video. Many centers use far less than the maximum, and some use none at all.

Outdoor play rules

Children of all ages should have at least two times outdoors each day, suited to their age.
Children who can move around should get active play outdoors, weather permitting, in a safe space.
When the weather is bad, active play should happen indoors instead.
For preschoolers in programs of less than 3 hours a day, outdoor time is recommended but not required.

Daily activities should also use both large and small muscles, balance active and quiet time, and avoid having mobile children sit still for more than 30 minutes in a row, outside of nap or rest time.

What "weather permitting" means in a Chicago winter

Illinois rules do not set one temperature cutoff in this section. Many programs use a wind chill and heat index chart, such as the Child Care Weather Watch chart, to decide how long children can safely stay outside. On very cold days, outdoor time may be short or move indoors. That is why centers ask for snow pants, boots, hats and mittens every day in winter. See our guide on how to dress a toddler for daycare in a Chicago winter.

How the rules compare with AAP advice

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises avoiding screen media for children younger than 18 to 24 months, other than video chatting, and limiting screen use for ages 2 to 5 to about one hour a day of high-quality programming. That one hour covers the whole day, home included. If your child's center uses some screen time, you may want to plan for less at home. Our older post on screen time and toddlers has ideas for home.

Questions to ask on a daycare tour

Do you use any screen time? For which ages, and how often?
What do children watch, and what can they do instead?
When do children go outside, and for how long?
How do you decide whether it is too cold or too hot to go out?
What do you do for active play on bad-weather days?
What gear should we bring for outdoor time?

For more questions, see our daycare tour questions guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can daycares in Illinois show TV to babies?

No. Illinois rules for licensed day care centers do not allow passive screen viewing for children under 2.

How much screen time is allowed at daycare in Illinois?

For children 2 and older in care 6 or more hours a day, up to 60 minutes a day, in sessions of no more than 30 minutes, and never during meals or snacks.

Do daycares have to take children outside every day?

The rules call for at least two outdoor times a day for children of all ages, weather permitting. In bad weather, active play moves indoors.

Do these rules apply to licensed home daycares?

This post covers the rules for licensed day care centers. Licensed day care homes follow a separate set of Illinois rules, so ask the provider about their screen and outdoor policies.

Outdoor time at Children's Land

At Children's Land, children go outdoors daily when the weather permits, and parents provide weather-appropriate clothing for stroller walks and playground time. All locations are open Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Learn about our toddler program, find a location, or contact us to schedule a tour.

Illinois Daycare Rules on Screen Time and Outdoor Play