For the most part, do you have a daily schedule you follow or do you just kind of 'wing it' most days??
Curious to see what a typical day looks like for other day home providers!
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For the most part, do you have a daily schedule you follow or do you just kind of 'wing it' most days??
Curious to see what a typical day looks like for other day home providers!
I have a daily schedule but it's flexible. I find that the schedule helps the kids know a routine and know what to expect every day. I'll have to post it a little later though :)
7-8am: Drop-offs, Free play
8-9am: Walk to school
9-10am: Outdoor play/free play
10-10:30am: Snack time/clean up
10:30-11:30am: Circle Time, Arts & Crafts, learning time, reading
11:30-12pm: Lunch
12-2pm: Nap time, quiet time
2:30-3:15pm: Walk to school
3:15-3:30pm: Snack time/clean up
3:30-5:30pm: Homework, piano practice, free play, outdoor play, pick-ups
My meal times are strictly set, aswell as nap time but other than that I am ok if thing vary. Sometimes toddlers do not want to do crafts at 1015... sometimes.... GASP we do crafts after naptime!! lol :)
I base my schedule on the childrens moods... at other times the kids may be really into whatever activity we are doing so we may strech that time aswell.
We do have a general schedule, but it is not written in stone (except lunch and naps!)
until 9: freeplay
9-9:30: activity together/craft/playdoh/preschool worksheets...
9:30 snacks
10 outside play
11 freeplay
12 lunch
12:30 quiet play or reading
1-3 naptime/quiet time for the older ones (some TV,puzzles, colouring...)
3:15 snack
3:45 back outside in the nice weather, or more freeplay
but I do very much go with the flow and follow their moods, as well as my own ;)
Schedule is pretty much the same as the ones that have been posted. I think the best way to describe my schedule is that we go through the things in the same order just not always for the same amount of time. I use the moods and temperment of the kids that day. For example on a Monday they often arrive tired so we do more active things to keep them going but then move lunch up and start naps earlier and then usually they stay asleep longer.
Mondays are a lot of freeplay here, since they actually seem to miss eachother over the weekend and just want time to play on their own Monday mornings. It feels more like a playdate, than daycare. I take advantage to tidy up after the weekend.
Thats pretty much how I run things as well. I have a schedule outline but basically go with the flow. I am trying to incorporate themes now so there may be a tad bit more structure. I think it will be more fun for the kids in the end though.
How does this work with the themes mlc1982? Id like to start doing that same? I am often asked about a preschool program, and have invested in some simple learning tools. I am not a teacher and am finding it really hard to "teach" abcs, numbers, days of the week, seasons, weather etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by mlc1982
How do you use themes in your day?
I usually do the schedule every morning. I like to be somthing spontaneously.
To incorporate themes look for small blocks of time you can do more caregiver run activities such as during freeplay gather the children for a short session and then send them off to play and then at the end have them clean up a little earlier than now and that will give you another short time to do an activity. In storytime read a book on the theme you want to do. Start by gradually setting aside periods in your day and the children will come to expect the new schedule quickly. As they get older or they are particulary interested in a topic they will want to start the sessions sooner or stay in the group activity longer and then it is time to adjust the schedule again to reflect what the children want.