Bringing kids to daycare, the first thing parents hear is the word “routine.” Some, incredibly inexperienced, dads and moms, these words are disturbing. “Won’t live according to the regimen be too difficult for the child?”, “Will the baby be able to join the team? Will he get used to living according to the schedule?” – such questions are often heard from parents by the educator. After all, family life is rarely built according to strict temporary rules. Children get used to a free schedule of life: they feed them when they want to eat. When they tried to sleep, they put them to bed. Games walks in the family are also organized spontaneously, according to mood or when parents have free time.
A healthy lifestyle is always following a specific regime, creating favourable conditions for the proper development of the body, maintaining it in working mode. All loads are uniform, all requirements for physical growth and psychological development are met under this regime. This means that there are no conditions for developing diseases, stresses that provoke a failure of the child’s body. In the preschool period, you should understand the usefulness of the daily routine and teach you how to plan the day correctly.
Daily Routine
With the beginning of a child’s visit to daycare, the question arises of preparing him for classes at school: the child needs to develop skills in using a pen, pencil, as well as perseverance, the ability to concentrate, and perform the tasks of a teacher (educator, and then a teacher). A well-adjusted daily routine of a preschooler helps in this – and not only. The daily routine is an established sequence of sleep, walks, games, developmental activities, nutrition, and hygiene.
Goals of Daily Routine in Home Daycare
- The child should not experience a lack of sleep and food;
- Competent hygiene.
- The child should take part in daily activities.
- Support for a positive emotional state of the child.
- Encourage children to comply.
- Development of cultural skills in children.
- Individual characteristics of preschoolers are taken into account.
- It creates a welcoming environment.
- The organization of the regime corresponds to the age characteristics of children.
Daily Routine Components in Home Daycare
The daily routine includes: taking children to a home daycare at the beginning of the day and saying goodbye in the evening, physical exercise, organizing meals, a mandatory walk and activities to develop children’s physical activity, rest time, namely sleep in the afternoon, creative and cognitive activities in the classroom.
Meeting Children at Home Daycare
Every weekday morning, children come to the daycare, the reception of children is from 7 to 9 a.m. The teacher, greeting the children, asks the parents what mood the child came to the daycare in, how he feels. At this time, the child can play alone or with other children.
Gymnastics
The development of physical skills is significant for kids. Morning gymnastics keeps the body in good shape. It becomes a kind of morning ritual that allows children to join the team to do a common thing together – in this case, and these are gymnastic exercises that help them grow strong dexterous, healthy. During gymnastics, the child’s body finally wakes up, and the baby is ready to learn the knowledge that he will receive in the classroom in daycare.
Meals at Home daycare
Before eating, children wash their hands. Each has individual hygiene products. The teacher can assign assistants who help with hygiene or set the table, performing simple actions. In the daycares of Better Than Home agency, meals are organized four times a day. Children are offered daily healthy food, including vegetables, fruits, homemade bread, meat products without antibiotics and hormones. Children eat in a group, at a table. The teacher needs to pay attention to how each child eats: whether he slouches, does not push a full spoon into his mouth, whether he takes cutlery correctly, whether he knows how to use a napkin. The teacher explains how to eat calmly and kindly to the child who makes a mistake. At the time of eating, the child receives the knowledge and skills he will need in life. The culture of behaviour at the table, the hygiene rules – these foundations are laid in daycare.
Games in Home Daycare
Play is of great importance to a child. It develops fantasy and allows the child to play specific moments of his life and analyze situations and developmental activities. Games help the child adapt to the world; they prepare for adult life. Therefore, game moments are essential not only in the independent exercise of the child but also during thematic classes, joint projects offered by the teacher.
Educational Activities in Home Daycare
Educators conduct classes in different areas to develop physical activity, musical skills, creative imagination, speech, enrichment of vocabulary, fine motor skills, preparation, and adaptation to school. The lesson lasts from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the child’s age. Between classes, the teacher allows the children to relax and play.
Walking with Children
Children walk either in the yard or go to the park (usually for themed activities). A walk is an opportunity to acquaint children with the features and signs of animate and inanimate nature, conduct simple experiments, teach a lesson to develop physical activity, and form labour skills. The teacher makes sure that the children are dressed according to the weather. Children learn to dress and undress independently, choose toys for outdoor games.
Daytime Sleep in Home Daycare
Each child has his sleeping place, which he knows well. This habit makes the child feel secure and comfortable. Before going to bed, the room where the beds are located is ventilated. Before going to bed, children go to the toilet and wash their hands. Before naps, children play quiet games, read with the teacher, listen to music. So the children become calmer, it is easier for them to fall asleep. The child cannot be in motion all day; he needs rest. While the child is sleeping, the brain is resting; his nervous system is at rest, all the cells of the body are resting, gaining strength for new games and activities.
In the afternoon, children can play, walk, participate in activities. Each home daycare may have different offers depending on the specialization of the children’s center. In any case, the daily routine in the home daycare is aimed primarily at its development and preparation for learning. Therefore, it is essential to draw it up correctly and stick to it adamantly. This habit will help the child throughout his life. She will make him more confident, organized and able-bodied.
The Better Than Home daycare Agency will help Ontario providers create a compelling and balanced home daycare routine. Contact us for a free consultation.
