Feedback on my daily routine, please

[sunnydays]

I just found this website with lots of ideas: http://www.toddlertoddler.com/

[Dreamalittledream]

I just found this website with lots of ideas: http://www.toddlertoddler.com/

Thanks for the link! I do admit the "shake and paint" one kinda made me twitch

[lunademiel]

Thanks for the feedback, guys! It's hard for us to go outside everyday because of the way naps work with the younger ones, but we do try to go when we can. I think I will do more structured play, Flex. I was kind of leaning that way anyway. What sites do you find are the best for ideas?

I also have two LO's who nap in the am from 9-10. They have a snack as soon as they wake then I whisk them outside for a walk. 10 MO doesn't walk yet so I can't just play in the backyard. 12 MO does walk but it's really hard for her to walk in the snow. So what I have been doing is putting 10 MO in the ergo and the 12 MO and 3 Year old in the double stroller/bike trailer. I get some exercise and they get some fresh air. We all LOVE it! We are back by 11:30 in time to make lunch. It really breaks up the morning. I find they get bored with free time. After they have dumped every single toy onto the floor they are bored LOL! I can't wait until summer and I can get them all outside. Also I wish I could afford a runabout because soon enough I'm going to have 5 kids total so walks will be out of the question!

[Inspired by Reggio]

I find I have most success at getting children engaged when there are minimal 'transitions' and larger blocks of 'free play' to be honest and outside is definitely a MUST for me because it tires them out and aids in 'quiet time' being successful

IME the challenge with children is that depending on their learning style it takes some of them A LOT time to get truly 'invested' in play ... they have to watch others for a bit to get comfortable and weigh their options on what to 'do' from the choices in the room and then start doing it and if we have their day broken up into little blocks of time - they just stop bothering to get invested in play because they are frustrated as they just get 'started' and than someone is singing the tidy up song

I also find that more and more toys do not ENGAGE children but rather entertain them superficially and therefore they get bored very easily ... having a selection of materials and equipment that is more open ended and engages the imagination and creativeness children innately have works wonders!

My routine goes something like:

7:30 – 9:00 Exploring in the Play Room / Creative & Sensory Explorations

9:00 – 9:30 Hand washing / Snack Time / Washroom Reminders

9:30 – 10:30 Backyard Adventures **

10:30 – 11:45 Exploring Play Room or remain outside if weather is appropriate

11:45 – 12:30 Lunch followed by wind down for nap story time

12:30 – 2:30 Rest time / Quiet Time / livingroom quiet activities or Treehouse

2:30 – 2:45 Wake up Songs & Activities

2:45 – 3:45 Hand washing / Snack / Washroom Reminders

3:45 – 4:30 Backyard Adventures until home time **

** during inclement weather we often take a field trip into the community in the morning and in the afternoon we engage in indoor gross motor games.

[Momof4]

I don't believe that there is a reason in the world for anybody to ever be bored, are you kidding me? There aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done! Children especially should never be bored and if they start behaving that way the adults in their lives should nip that in the bud immediately. I admit that I like to take my daycare children outside every morning after 9 for about 2 hours but we travel places so a lot of walking or stroller riding is always involved too.

[Cadillac]

Thanks for the link! I do admit the "shake and paint" one kinda made me twitch

Shake and paint is soooooooooo much fun!!!!! and zero mess!

[Cadillac]

I don't believe that there is a reason in the world for anybody to ever be bored, are you kidding me? There aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done! Children especially should never be bored and if they start behaving that way the adults in their lives should nip that in the bud immediately.

Really? No reason for anyone to be bored ever? how exactly do you nip that in the bud? Children aren't adult who have 5 million things to get done. Even then sometimes I'm bored of the daily grind. Boredom can mean a lot of things: understimulation, overstimulation, needing attention, wanting to do something DIFFERENT for a change. It's not a crime to be bored.
I'm finding it funny that people think 2 years olds are fine entertaining themselves all day.

[Inspired by Reggio]

IMO There is a difference between not being motivated to do something and needing encouragement to get inspired to do something and being truly bored ... when a child or adult says they are bored IME its a sign that ones imagination has run out or they are too tired of overwhelmed with choices to pick something ... my crew as long as fed and well rested and not sick can play for hours without feedback from me at all ... and sometimes with very little toys ...like a crate and some open ended materials like plastic lids, pots and pans and fabric strips they create dress up themes or beds or whatever as the play unfolds!

While I have had kids who just want to lay on the couch and vege I have honestly never had a kid say they were bored in my program and do not have behavior associated with boredom and have kids who range from one to six years of age and in past my stepson who was here when school was out and older yet - he use to love coming to play with the crew.

[playfelt]

Many kids these days do not know how to play and it is getting to be younger and younger children. Even as infants too many moms play "for" the child. They sit and make the toy go and make exagerated gestures while the child just sits there. They shake a rattle, they read a book turning the pages or they put the child into a confining space and that is it. Many children come to care not having had a chance to explore and experiement and discover what toys can do on their own.

With some we need to walk them through the steps of using the toys. With others we need to step back and make ourselves unavailable for play so they have to play alone or with peers and not an adult.

My role is to provide activities to do not to do them. The child's role is to decide to do what is out or make their own fun instead.

What I would do as an alternative to more structured time for everyone is move from area to area in the room and offer enrichments meaning if some are pretending to be pirates then offer them extra props or if someone is buildign with blocks ask them if they need any trucks or people or animals for their stucture - if they say no fine, if they want then help them get. Take a toy from the shelf and feature it on a table - ie showcase an activity. You might even stand there and use the toy and the children will watch from a distance. After a bit walk away from the toy. You will be surprised that some of the kids will go over to the toy and start playing with it now that they know what it does.

The only ones who are truly bored are those with no imagination. We can be too tired to play, too overwhelmed/consumed mentally to concentrate enough to play but those are more adult issues not kid issues. A child that says they are bored needs to learn how to play and maybe in doing so they will find what inspires them.

[Momof4]

Really? No reason for anyone to be bored ever? how exactly do you nip that in the bud? Children aren't adult who have 5 million things to get done. Even then sometimes I'm bored of the daily grind. Boredom can mean a lot of things: understimulation, overstimulation, needing attention, wanting to do something DIFFERENT for a change. It's not a crime to be bored.
I'm finding it funny that people think 2 years olds are fine entertaining themselves all day.

Oh sorry, with respect I completely disagree!!! I totally disagree!!! I have never ever had a child tell me they are bored because I challenge them and teach them and expect the best from them.

I have grandsons who are 2 and 3 years old who are computer/phone geniuses and I can't even keep up with them or beat them at their games. I can't keep up with them at their physical games or even the things I put out for them to play with because their imaginations blow me away! I'm the Tim Horton's drive through lady then the paramedic then the Walmart cashier then the whatever, you get my drift? Why do they know about paramedics? Because on my 911-Safety Theme Week we toured the Thames Valley Ambulance and the nearest Firehall.

As an adult I never feel bored but I can't even imagine a child feeling bored. When my children used to say 'I'm bored' as teenagers I used to tell them I had lots of dishes and vacuuming, etc. for them to do and they would scatterlike ants!!!!