Free template
Consent and release forms template
The permissions worth having in writing, one per page, so a family can decline photos without declining sunscreen.
- Separate consent per topic, because bundling them means a no to one is a no to all
- Photo and social media permission split, since parents often say yes to one and no to the other
- Sunscreen, insect repellent, and diaper cream on a single topical products page
- Signature, printed name, and date on every page
PDF, one page per consent, letter size. Print the ones your program needs.
Get the template
Tell us where to send it and the file is yours. We send the template and the occasional new one, nothing else.
Four consents most programs actually need
Photos in the program
Permission to photograph a child for daily updates and the family's own feed, which is separate from anything public.
Marketing and social media
A distinct yes or no for public use, with a line for whether a first name may appear.
Topical products
Sunscreen, insect repellent, and diaper cream, with room for the brand a family sends and any skin sensitivity.
Field trips and walks
Neighborhood walks and off-site trips, listed separately since a walk to the park happens weekly.
Medication administration
A short authorization block for a specific medicine, dose, and window, to be renewed rather than left open-ended.
Signature block
Printed name, signature, date, and relationship to the child, on each page so a single page stands alone in the file.
Consents that hold up because they are specific
A vague blanket permission is the one most likely to cause a conversation you did not want. Narrow, dated consents are easier for everyone to trust.
Never bundle unrelated permissions. One signature covering photos, trips, and medicine gives you no way to honor a partial no.
Date them and renew yearly. Consent given at enrollment three years ago is stale. Re-sign at the start of each program year.
Make the no easy to see. Keep a visible list of children whose photos may not be shared, and check it before anything leaves the building.
Childcare consent forms, answered
Which consents are legally required?
Requirements vary by state and some are set by your licensor rather than by statute. Emergency medical consent and medication authorization are commonly required. Confirm your own list.
Can a parent change their mind later?
Yes, and your policy should say how. Most programs accept a written withdrawal at any time and update the internal list the same day.
Do we need consent to text a photo to one parent?
That is usually covered by an in-program photo consent rather than a public use one, which is exactly why the two are split here.
Is a signed form enough for medication?
Often it is one part. Many states also require the medicine in its original labeled container and a written log of each dose given.
Permissions that follow the child, not a binder
Consents live on the child's profile, so a teacher sees photo permission before posting and a no is impossible to miss.