I do have a schedule but it's entirely flexible. I offer themes but I do them on a monthly basis, for instance "under the sea" and then each week we've looked at octopus, shark etc...My children are all young under 3, so although I may have planned activities each day, we just go with the flow and if we get to them great, if not, oh well.

Typically anything the kids have created at art time go home with the families on Fridays. But during summer, when my own older kids are home, i let parents know that we don't really do the arts and crafts...we tend to paint on trees and patio stones instead.

So during the summer months, we don't adhere to the schedule as much as we are outside for half the day...in the morning we go out after snack and stay out till lunch and then after nap we're out till the kids leave. I love it, less mess in my house, more fresh air...

Most importantly, I've discovered that it's more stressful to try and fit all these "learning times" in, instead when we're outside we can talk about the colour of things, or we can paint a letter or shape on the ground or examine bugs. I used to be more rigid about following a schedule, but now that I don't bother, I find that me and the kids are so much more relaxed and I'm able to just enjoy them!