ARRIVAL /FREE PLAY/ DIAPERING
Children arrive between 7:00-8:00
am. When entering my home please remove all foot wear at the door out of respect of my home I do not allow shoes Thank
you. Personal belongings are put away in the child's labeled cubby. Parents are always welcome to visit, but when the
parent is ready to leave, good byes should be brief and departure quick.
A
diaper-check is done during this time period. This is also considered a free play time. Babies need time to explore new toys
and experiences in their own time and at their own pace. I will interact with the babies to encourage exploration of
diverse activities and utilize this time to get to know individual dispositions, unique traits and favorite pastimes. It is
also a prime time to reinforce language exploration.
As the year progresses, babies will become more and more aware
of peers and this is an optimum time for peers to observe one another. I will also model appropriate use of activities. Skills
are worked on in a fun and informal climate. This free play time period will lay the foundation for future skills such
as sharing, choosing a toy, focusing on an activity for an extended period of time, and replacing toys to their appropriate
place. At the close of the free play period, a clean-up song will be sung.
WASHING HANDS
Washing of the hands frequently during the day limits germs and teaches the children good hygiene.
BREAKFAST/LUNCH
Yes! Even breakfast
and lunch can be a learning experiences in my program. Mealtime is the perfect time for offering some focused 1:1 attending
to the children. I will do feeding as needed, but soon as possible self-feeding skills will be worked on. As baby moves to
finger foods, cups, and self-feeding 1:1 attention will be given to insure success. Again language stimulation will be an
integral aspect of mealtime.
Meal time for babies, as well as adults is a natural time for
social expression. Babies will begin to notice peers and imitate skills learned by others. As clean up teeth brushing will
take place after lunch only. Lights are dimmed and sleepy-time music begins to set the stage for a restful nap. Children are
offered a book to look at or a quite toy to explore as they a wait being prepared for naps. Babies are offered whatever type
of soothing (holding, patting, rocking, etc.) needed to allow them to drift into sleep.
SNACKS/ ORAL MOTOR
Snack time
provides the opportunity to offer a simple snack along with a drink while once again enjoying the chance to socialize and
to work on adaptive(self-help) skills as well as communication skills. In the beginning, you might be sending a bottle of
formula for your baby, but as time passes, we will work with you to move toward solid snacks and water from a straw bottle
or other chosen cup.( I provide juice in the a.m., whole milk at noon, and water in the p.m.)
Keep in mind that we can always substitute Cheerios for the regularly
scheduled snack if your little one can handle those. With the afternoon snack it is great for working on oral motor skills
because the babies are rested from their nap and alert after the stimulation of the activity period. Once again, singing along
with vocalization is encouraged.
NAP TIME
Each baby will
have his/her pack-n-play. The toddlers will have floor mats. I will offer each little one support needed for falling
asleep, including lullabies, etc. as I stated before. Parents are encouraged to send a couple of favorite blankies to offer
comfort and security. All blankets will be sent home on Fridays for laundering, or daily as needed. I do have on hand some
blankets that can be used. As the babies awaken, diapering is the first priority. Babies who are early-risers will have a
free-play period with lots of interaction from me until their peers awaken or nap time comes to an end.
MORNING ACTIVITIES
This time period includes activities planned according to the theme of the week as well as activities utilizing the many manipulative
in our classroom. The activities may include water play, exploration of all kinds of painting experiences, and other
activities such as scribbling and playing with play dough. Through these small group activities, many realms of the curriculum
will be incorporated, such as fine motor skills, cognitive skills, adaptive skills, social skills, communication skills, and
even gross motor skills. There will sometimes be a product produced (such as picture for bringing home), but more often, it
is the process itself that is the important part.
During this time of the day, we introduce your little one to as many
different kinds of sensory stimulation as is possible. We awaken those sensory channels and in doing so, open the pathways
for all kinds of learning. Some children will exhibit some defensiveness in the beginning when it comes to exploring new materials
and textures, but with patience and consistency, tolerance will grow.
Please note that many of our activities will be messy, so send your
baby in practical, easy to clean clothing. During this time period, the babies will rotate through several different activities,
including free play. Most activities are done in very small groups or one-to-one for optimal learning experiences.
AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES
The afternoon
activity time will reinforce skills focused on that day or offer opportunities for other manipulative activities. Children
will once again be worked with in either small groups or individually. Many of the activities will look like we are simply
"playing" so please keep in mind that play is the way your baby learns.
The activities are carefully chosen and given us an opportunity to
work on many skills. The afternoon activity time corporate both gross motor choices and, of course strives to strengthen cognitive,
social, and communication skills. As the year goes on, your baby's stamina and tolerance for stimulation will increase, and
as this happens, we will be able to follow our schedule more closely. Even later in the year, there are times when the group
needs more "downtime" and we are always ready to adjust the schedule accordingly.
MUSIC/STORY
On Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday, this time period's activities will be under the direction of music. Music will be played along with
singing and playing of instruments. Music also gives babies another avenue of self expression. In addition, the activities
encourage such things as relaxation, language skills, task focus, listening skills, motor coordination, etc. On Tuesday and
Thursday, this time, period will be devoted to looking at and reading books.
The value of reading cannot be stresses enough, and this particular
time period will be used for many types of reading experiences. Individual books, Big Books, puppets, and other materials
will be used to foster a love of reading and emerging pre-reading/language skills. Large group, small group, and individual
reading activities will be used.
GROSS MOTOR
After sitting
for music time, babies have a need for physical activity and will get this chance daily during the gross motor development
time period. Babies will be given the chance to experience the many types of activities, and I will select specific
material / equipment for working on specific skills. Time will also be allowed for free exploration and play. Along with the
development of gross motor skills, the children will also access an outlet for their boundless energy.
