First Preschooler

So far, I've had babies - I have a 10 month old, an 11 month old and a 14 month old. On July 2nd, I will be getting a 2.5 year old. OMG WHAT DO I DO!? Haha.

I've become an expert with the babies, we have a set schedule, a great routine, and I'm pretty good at basically letting them play all day long while singing, counting and following them around clapping and making noices.

I'm super excited about having an older kid where I can actually do crafts, experiments, and engage him in learning activities. I have so many ideas, but I'm a little nervous that it'll be too young for him, or not stimulating enough. I would like to focus on preparing him for kindergarden - teaching him to count, his abcs, colours, shapes and so on. Like I said, I have some ideas, but I'm afraid I'm going to run out or that they're going to be boring.

Could you please give me some ideas, activities, toilet training tips, lunch ideas - anything that will help me transition from just babies to older kids too. I know there will be an adjustment period, but I just want to make sure he's happy.

Thanks!!

2.5 is not so old that he will be bored with just playing as long as you have some toys that are geared to his age (cars, trains, trucks, blocks, mega blocks, are great!). You will get to know him and his maturity level given a little time. Don't stress about teaching him everything at once...he still has a year and a half until he starts school and it depends on the child how much of that they are ready for at that age. You can also start simple with art time...let him colour with crayons or paint with brushes or try finger painting so he can explore his creative side. I'm not huge on complicated crafts where you have to do most of the work...I wonder what they really learn from that. Lots of outside active time will be a hit (think trips to the park or splash pad), so you are starting with him at a good time of the year. If the babies are still having morning naps, that could be a could time to spend time doing art or other learning activities with him, but don't force it...it's good for him to play on his own as well! Good luck!

I agree at 2.5 they are still very much into 'learning through play' ... open ended creative experiences where they just 'explore the mediums' verses trying to create anything cause they are still very much about the process of painting, coloring, drawing and so forth, they are still very sensory orientated right up until well past when they outgrown our programs - so playing in water, sand, goop, play doh and other sensory things.

The children in my program range from 12 months to 6 years of age ... I do not plan much different for the older ones than the younger ones persay the environment is set up with a wide range of open ended materials that can be used differently depending on the ages and interest of the children .... regardless of what is offered in the program the infant uses it one way and the 6 year old uses it another way but they both derive meaning and enjoyment from it based on their age and stage.... be it setting out paint and paper or engaging in block play or singing songs at story time, the fabric bin is 'sensory' for the infants but is 'dress up options' for the older kids and so forth.

The only 'difference' between age group is during 'free play I do have things available as 'table toys' that you have to be 'earn' the right to explore with them by showing me you are big enough to go sit at the table with them ... so the children have to 'request' that they come down and I bring them down for them ... so for example the light table has items for ALL ages to explore and can be explored on the floor with the infants or older kids - however it also has some things that are not for ALL AGES and you have to sit up at the higher table with it to explore those - so some small reflective items you have to be past the mouthing stage and throwing stage to explore with cause the rule is play safe play respectfully with them - you need to be able to keep them up on the table away from those who still put things in their mouth ;)

I opt for the teachable moments during play to reinforce ABC, 123 and other 'school readiness' things verses having actual 'lessons' in these things for children .... so for example the kitchen centre has clipboards, paper and pencils on strings attached to the boards for 'taking orders' in the resteraunt, doing 'work' in the office, responding to 'emergency' when a Dr and so forth and they practice early 'writing skills' through their play ... depending on their age they 'scribble' and as they gain interest and awareness they start asking 'how do you print' and I will create word books for them with their 'words I want to know' so they can go and look it up for themselves and we add new words as their vocabulary and interests grow .... learning like this IMO has way more value and longevity of learning ... I have kids in care who are not in school but can read and write many short familiar words from their interests and life - not because I sat them down and did 'lessons' on this but through their play they have be exposed, shown desire and so forth.

We sing finger plays and other activities that reinforce counting and one to one correspondence and so forth ... there is a LOT of math naturally in our everyday play!

Children are 'STUDENTS' for 6 hours a day for 14 years by the time graduate from highschool add another 3-6 years of post secondary depending on what they want to 'be' when they grow up .... that is lots of time for 'academic style learning' to prepare them for life .... you only get to be a CHILD for 4 years and IMO we need to allow those years to be filled with magic, wonder and fun filled PLAY where you get to master creating thinking and problem solving through play, risk tasking as you try new things in your play, empathy, resilience, conflict resolution and other social skills with your peers as you engage in team work oriented play and negotiating role play and other play themes that childhood is rich with ... these are the skills the 'childhood' should focus on - the skills that will allow them to be life long learners of 'academic' things ;)

Ditto to the above. A 2.5 year old is happy playing and you can easily teach numbers and letters and colours and shapes while playing with him. I accept 10 month old babies into care too and have a large age range in my daycare right now, but I start the babies painting when they are right around a year old and colouring with washable markers and playing with playdo and gluing crafts. Keep your crafts super simple. I have done simple things like a 'hard and soft' craft, gluing feathers, cotton balls, acorn tops, etc. onto a piece of construction paper.

I make one meal for all the children and just cut the pieces smaller for the babies. Don't work too hard by making tons of food. No matter what the age of the child in my daycare they all sleep from 1-3pm (sometimes a little earlier and a little longer) but they are all on the same schedule. As far as toilet training, don't try to do all the work, make sure the parents have gotten it well on the road because you are helping them with this but it is not your total responsibility.

thanks ladies! im super excited to have him start! im lookinf forward to having someone to "talk" to haha the babies just look at me like I'm crazy lmao

reggio, your daycare sounds like SO much fun! lol I would like to go there lmao