Me again.

I am wondering how those of you with (or had) a really young group do 'activities'. My group is 5 kiddos 14-19months old.

Our day is pretty much routine (diapers, meals, naps, outside) and free play.

They all free play amazingly...they either play off on their own or together...3 of them are very advanced socially when it comes to playing together.

We do a long story time each day and many mini storytimes at their requests.

I feel like some of them are ready for more 'advanced' activities but some are not and as a whole it just won't work. I can pull off colouring and stickers...with a fair bit of crayon and sticker eating by all.

My daughter loves mr potato head and stacking/sorting but she does this after daycare hours. I'd love to pull out the mr potato head in the daycare but I just sit here thinking that kid will eat and swallow the ears and eyes...those kids will run off with the feet and hands and the other 2 will melt down because they actually wanted to use it properly but have no pieces left.

How do you all pull it off? Do I just wait longer? Do I somehow contain them with the activity while the others free play. Our table and chairs are all toddler height so I can't just sit at the table with a few...the others would run up and grab the pieces (tried this with colouring) and leave me playing interceptor/referee.

Maybe I need to get a gate and close off the side playroom leaving a few in the main room and a few with me in the sideroom with the 'activity'? Not sure they would be impressed with being gated off but they'd learn soon enough I think.

Any suggestions? what we are doing now is working everyone is busy and happy...but I think I'm getting bored and I know a few of the kids could use a new challenge!