A Toddler's Day
The day is designed with the child's growing knowledge and competencies foremost in mind, and therefore, there is a balance of experiences provided which are both caregiver initiated as well as child initiated.
For example, while caregivers offer story and group times, which can be music, movement, memory games, extension work, as well as various guided educational elements, children can also make their own decisions to independently access certain equipment - such as blocks, reading corner, writing and literacy tables, at any time of the day.
An example of a daily routine is:
- 7:00am - 8:00amQuiet activities
- This time is when all our children are arriving and settling in for the day. Activities which we may use to quietly ease them into their daily routine are construction, reading, or writing.
- 8:00am - 9:00amGroup and story time
- Prior to the children transitioning to the outdoor areas they will participate in indoor group activities, or some group reading. Indoor days will provide an extension of these group activities.
- 9:00am - 10:00amMorning snack time
- The children's nutritional snacks are served during their time outdoors, or indoors depending on weather, to allow children to eat as part of a smaller group.
- 10:00am - 12:00pmPlanned program
- This long block of time is used for planned program activities utilizing both the indoor and outdoor environments, inclusive of:
- gross motor (climbing, running games, ball play, jump rope, bikes)
- fine motor (writing, dough, manipulative toys)
- socio-dramatic (home corner, sand pit, cubby houses, dress ups)
- symbolic arts (painting, drawing, clay, music, movement, singing, dancing)
- construction (blocks, mobilo, duplo)
- literacy (reading corner, writing table, introduction to phonics)
- math, science and technology concepts (card games, memory, discovering nature and wildlife)
- world culture (continually done by hearing words and songs, and seeing writing in languages other than English, and celebrating cultural festivals and customs)
- social skills that are constantly being developed through every key learning area and interaction that a child engages in.
- 12:00am - 12:30pmGroup time
- Another group time takes place prior to getting ready for lunch.
- 12:30pm - 1:00pmLunch
- The children are encouraged to assist in the setting of tables, placing the tablecloths, assisting the caregivers in accessing their drinks, and feeding themselves. Discussions over lunch are very much encouraged, with nutrition and healthy eating often being the topic of conversation between children and caregivers.
- 1:00pm - 2:00pmRest time
- Toddlers and younger preschool children go to their rest mats and sleep to soft music. If they do not sleep they are able to have books and puzzles on their beds as they rest quietly.
- 2:00pm - 4:00pmTime outside
- Time outside, or inside in the activities room or space, when nutritious snacks are usually served, again in a progressive manner.
- 4:00pm - 5:30pmPlanned program
- Continuation of various indoor planned programmed activities.
- 5:30pm - 6:00pmQuiet activities
- At the time each child is picked up it is also a good time for families and staff to discuss their child's day.
Education & Development
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