2 questions from a newbie

[GymMom]

I will be opening my dayhome in September and am hoping to get things right from the start. I know there will be things that need tweaking along the way, but am hoping you ladies with lots of experience might have a tip or 2 for me. For now, I have 2 questions. What does your daily schedule look like and how closely do you stick to it? I assume the days go more smoothly for the kids - and you - if you follow a routine. Also, what do you do with non-nappers during nap-time? Most likely, all my dayhome kids will be napping in the living room so I'm not sure what to do with the older ones at that time!
Thanks so much!!
Kerri

[Starshine]

I have a flexible schedule for the kids--generally free play during drop off and pick up times. We do outdoor time once in the morning and once in the afternoon. We have circle time and a snack in the morning. Afternoon we do arts/crafts. Storytime is after lunch.

I have two kids who don't nap and I just have them do quiet activities--puzzles, board games, lego, etc. Once in a while we watch a movie.

[Crayola kiddies]

Hi ... I don't have non nappers.... Even the 3.75 yr old still naps....and if she wakes early she just stays in her bed and rests quietly. And yes I follow a routine too breakfast at 7:30, then free play, I do outside time in the morning from 9-10:30, tidy up from 10:30- 11 lunch 11-12 nap/quiet time 12-3 then parents start to arrive at 3 and all are gone by 4:30. in the afternoon as each child gets up I do diaper change, drink, snack, and then they get their shoes on. The last ones to leave do something quietly like books or puzzles.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Here is my 'guideline' for a schedule ... the times vary depending on needs of the current group but the flow is the same.

Below is a 'guideline' for how a typical day may unfold:

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 / Project work explorations

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

12:30 – 2:30 Rest time / Quiet Time living room 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

4:30 – 5:00 Small Group Quiet Activities & Stories before home time

Schedule times are flexible to meet the changing needs of the children in program, however the flow of the day will be similar each day.

As for non nappers EVERYONE has quiet time here for at least an hour following lunch ... as a result 99% of them sleep because they NEED it still ~ I have a 6 year old who sleeps 'occasionally' cause she is starting to outgrow them but she rests quietly on other days out of respect for those who do NEED to sleep still.

IMO allowing some to NOT rest at the start of nap time is a recipe for disaster because at around 2 - 3 ALL children enter a stage of sleep resistance ~ this is when they finally grasp that time passes while they sleep and because they are ego centric they do not want to MISS ANYTHING by sleeping and they will stall with things like I need to pee, a drink, a hug and so forth and than once you get them they will talk to self or pinch themselves flop and turn and otherwise 'resist' sleeping so that they can be assured not to 'miss anything' ... it does not mean they do not NEED sleep still it means they need an adult who understands their development and stage and helps them 'realize' that they do in fact NEED to sleep and sets the stage to ensure they do .... if they can consistently lay quietly and still on their cot in the afternoon without STALLING to keep themselves awake then I would agree they have outgrown their nap ~ otherwise if they rest and fall asleep it is cause they NEED it!

I am 40 and I still NEED a nap ~ however I have too many responsibilities to take one .... in many cultures an afternoon 'nap / siesta' is required even in the work place because a brain that is well rested is way more 'productive'

[Momof4]

I have changed things over the years so much depending on the age group in my daycare and as I learned and experimented with routines. This is how things have turned out for me:

7:30 opening time
8:15 breakfast
9:00 outside field trips to the library or park for 2 hours at least 3 days/week
-inside for teaching my theme of the week at least 2 days/week with 1/2 hour at least outside on the slides and play equipment at my house
11:00 return home and freeplay while I prepare lunch
11:30 lunch
12:00 circle time most days
12:30 getting ready for naptime - all children sleep or lie quietly here no matter what their age but I have two 4 year olds who sleep 2 hours every day still
2:45-3ish wakeup and diaper changes
3:10ish afternoon snacktime
freeplay until pickups

I serve breakfast early because we are outside all morning and the gap between 8:30 when they finish until 11:30 when we have lunch is only 3 hours. I am flexible and my routines do not have to be exactly on time but I do have two girls picked up at 3 & 3:30 so I do try to get the children into bed on time and have afternoon snack on time for the sake of these two children.

When you open your daycare you will find what works best for you and the children in your care depending on their ages.