Suggestions for a Toddler Daycare routine?

Question

I recently accepted a job as an ece at a new centre. I came from another centre where I was working with infants in a fairly unstructured day.

I have been put into a brand new toddler program at a daycare that has been running for years ( they split the 18mos to 3 into two different toddler rooms). and am currently working with another staff and 12 children. we have a schedule that works, but just not seeming to flow properly. I would like some suggestions. The problem is that because it is a large centre and caters to other programs needing gross motor times outdoors or in the gym, we have strict time guidelines for these times that cannot be altered.

.open at 630.

.gross motor time 9:10 am -9:50 am (this is our outdoor time)

.lunch has to be over by 11:45.

.naptime between 12 and 1230.

.wakeup at 230.

.afternoon gross motor outdoor time 3:30-4:15

.close at 6.

where would be the best places to fit in craft and circle times. also diaper/bathroom times?

Answer 1

I work in a toddler room in a Group Family Daycare.  I have up to 9 kids. 2 mo old, 9 mo old, 2 yr old, 5-3 yr olds, and a 4 yr old.  When the infants' schedules click on a good day, our schedule goes like this...

We open at 7:30 and until 8:00 it's breakfast, greeting incoming kids, and hearding everyone to the toddler room.

8:00-8:15--Free Play

8:15-8:30--Cognitive Development

8:30-8:45--Fine Motor Development

8:45-9:00--Gross Motor Development

9:00-9:15--Language Development

9:15-9:30--Social/Emotional Development

9:30-9:45--Free Play/Clean Up

9:45-10:15--snack/outside time w/preschoolers

10:15-10:30--Dramatic Play Development

10:30-10:45--Music and Movement Development

10:45-11:00--Free Play/Clean Up

At 11 the preschool is over and we all play in the "big room" together

I scheduled activities to only last about 15 minutes so I won't lose their attention.  It's a bit of a struggle sometimes to make the activities age appropriate for such a wide variety of ages, but we make do.  I try to do quiet and more academic activities right away in the morning, followed by some active play.  Then more academic, slowly adding more active play as the day goes on.  That way they don't get all wound up right away, cuz then sometimes it's a lost cause getting them to do anything. lol

Good luck!

Answer 2

I'm a toddler teacher. Our schedule goes like this:

6-8am  Arrival, Breakfast

8-9am  Circle Time, Story Time, Song Time

9-915am  Diaper changes/potty

915-1045am Morning Snack, then Free play, indoors/outdoors

1045-11am  Interactive baby mozart/einstein

11-1130am  Lunch time

1130-1145 clean up

Noon-215pm Nap time

215-230pm diaper changes/potty

230-300pm snack time

300-430 free play

430-445 diaper/potty

445-515 songs, story time

515-600 go home, free play, television

And of course change dirty diapers anytime in between.

Answer 3

As a toddle teacher it can be very difficult to plan your day.  Especially with the age differences.  

Our day goes as this...

6:30-8:30     Arrival, free play

8:30-9:00     Snack

9:00-10:00   Circle time, song and dance, arts and crafts, free play

10-11            Fine and Gross motor play (parachute, mini-bikes, buggy ride, walk to the park, balloons, playdoh, bingo dotters, dress up, indoor climbing equiptment, etc)

11-12           Outdoor time or gym time depending on weather

12-1             Lunch

1-3               Nap

3-3:30          Outdoor time, free play

By state law, we have to have "potty parties" every two hours so at 8, 10, before nap, after nap, and 5.  And whenever there is a need to change inbetween those times.  And when the weather is nice, we are outside a lot more than an hour.

I hope this helps.  Good luck!!!