How Much Free Time Do You Give Per Day?

[mom-in-alberta]

7:30- open, play with toys kept on the main floor until everyone arrives. The TV usually has a children's show on, for those that are still "waking up" to sit for a little bit if they are groggy
8:30- move to the playroom, where they are free to play with whatever is set up (a few different "centres")
9:30- clean up playroom, go upstairs, wash up for snack (usually need to do a round of bum changes), serve snack, clean up after
10:15ish- play outside if weather permits, or directed "active play" in the playroom (they have to burn off the energy, to facilitate a good nap time, lol)
11:30- wash up for lunch, coloring and books while I prepare the food, eat and then clean up afterward
12:30- diaper changes, snuggle and a song for each, then lay down for nap/quiet time
2:30/3ish- bum changes again, free play in the playroom
3:30- wash up for snack, serve snack, and clean up after
4:00- craft time/ music time/ directed games (whatever is on the agenda that day)
4:45- clean up play areas, play outside until pick up
5:30- CLOSED

By free-play, I mean that I am at their level, playing "with" them but not "leading" them, necessarily. As others have mentioned, they are making me pretend tea, chasing dinosaurs around me, showing me the tall, tall towers that they are building. Throughout the day we are reading, singing, counting, discussing colors/letters/other concepts.