This Little Home of Mine Childcare

7:30-8:30 a.m. "Morning Playtime"

Morning playtime is an essential part of the program, as it provides children with the opportunity to develop their imaginations, relationships, and problem-solving skills through creative, free play. Upon arrival, children can choose to engage in any number of activities to express their creativity. The playroom is stocked with a variety of toys, felted foods, blocks, and literature for children to explore and play with. After a morning of playtime, we transition to breakfast, which is followed by circle time. We do this by modeling the importance of putting our toys away, in order to help children develop a sense of responsibility and prepare them for the next activity.

8:30-9:00 a.m. Breakfast

A well-balanced breakfast includes whole grain-rich breads/cereals such as WGR waffles, pancakes, bagels, etc., low-fat dairy products such as yogurt, string cheese, cottage cheese, etc., and fruit. These three food groups are a part of each meal, and is served with milk.

9:00-11:30 a.m. Circle Time

Once the playroom has been cleaned and everyone has had breakfast, we come together in a circle and settle in for our "Good Morning" song. Circle time is a special time when we talk about the current season with stories, songs, and creative movement - such as dancing or yoga! The children complete circle time with a story and we then transition to lunch time.

 

11:30-12:30 a.m. Wash Up/ Lunch

Vegetables make up ½ of your child's plate. I will aim for color and variety. Whole Grains are ¼ of your child's plate, such as oats, rice, starchy vegetables, beans, bread, and other refined grains. Protein is ¼ of your plate. Anything from fish and poultry to beans and nuts. I will limit red meat and avoid processed meats such as bacon and sausage. Each meal is served with a fruit and a glass of water.

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Lunch is packed with activities for practicing life skills.  Life skills help children feel a sense of belonging, responsibility, and accomplishment as they contribute to various life-based activities - such as washing hands, pouring water, washing/prepping food, cutting, setting and clearing the table, wiping down the table, washing dishes, sweeping the floor, etc.

 

We rotate between baking and artistic experiences throughout the week. On baking day, children get to pour, mix, knead, shape, and prepare a variety of baked goods for the season, which we then enjoy as our snack later the following day. Once finished, we prepare our snack for later, and return to the playroom for some rest. For artistic experiences, we rotate between wet-on-wet watercolor painting and other seasonal crafts. When the lesson is finished, we clean up and prepare to lay down.

12:30-3:00 p.m. Wash up/Lay down.
Non-Negotiable. Some kids fall asleep faster than others. Some take up to an hour of relaxing to fall asleep. If your child wakes during this time frame, they will lay quietly without toys in their spot, for as little as long as they are willing. If they become aggravated or upset, I will allow them to play quietly with a toy or book until nap time is complete. Please include "nap time" in your days at home in order to encourage them to rest well in my care. 

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3:00-3:30 p.m. Wake/Snack/Story

Healthy Snacking improves overall health, curbs sugar cravings, regulates mood, boosts brain power, and gives kids the energy they need to learn and play. Each snack will include a fruit whether it be an apple, pear, banana, orange, etc., a vegetable such as carrots, celery sticks, bell pepper slices, cucumber circles, etc., and/or a whole grain, a healthy fat like nuts or seeds (unless your child has allergies), and a glass of milk. As children finish their snacks, they'll begin washing and drying their dishes, putting them back on the shelf, clearing their place at the table, and getting dressed to go outside, ("Weather Permitting").

 

3:30-5:00 p.m. Outdoor playtime

Outdoor playtime is a highlight of our day, and we spend at least an hour outside each day, rain or shine, to build resilient bodies and a strong connection to the natural world. The children enjoy watering plants, weeding and raking, planting seeds, and harvesting fruits and vegetables. This helps them connect with the earth and develop a reverence for where our food comes from. Children are free to run, roll, and play games. The children enjoy all sorts of things in the play space such as the mud kitchen, collecting treasures for soups of all kinds, collecting buckets of water and dumping them into the mud kitchen sink, creating their own playscapes such as lakes and rivers in muddy spots in the corners, etc. When it is time to go home, parents come to pick up their children from outside, and our day comes to an end.

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5:00-5:30 p.m. Wash Up, Clean Up, Prep to go home.

Children must be picked up by 5:30 or late charges will apply. If you have any concerns, please arrive on time to discuss them.

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This schedule is FLEXIBLE and is adjusted according to the children's needs and interests. (i.e. If a child is engaged in art and another activity when snack is served, they may finish their activity and will then be served their snack. Or, if we are engaged during scheduled "learning/circle time" the learning/circle time will just be pushed back to a later time so that we may fully engage in the current activity until it is complete.) The main goal is to have fun while learning.