My program is based on the Preschool Curriculum "Learning through Play". I believe in a fun, structured hands on approch to learning and have incorporated a daily schedule based on this philosophy. It is my job as caregiver to provide a happy, safe and clean learning environment to all children enrolled and supply age appropriate equipment, supplies, toys and activities to those under my care.
Infants: As infants, they explore their physical and social world through their senses. I will facilitate learning through play by providing babies with opportunities to see, touch, taste, and smell a variety of foods and other safe stimuli. At this stage, give-and-take games such as peek-a-boo and other games, rhymes and songs will be shared with loving care and attention. They will be guided to learning how to interact socially in a positive, friendly way.
Toddlers: Toddlers begin to develop the ability to engage in early pretend play - imitating familiar events in their lives. They experience strong emotions which they are not yet able to fully understand, therefore I will help guide them by showing from example and being a positive roll model to them. I will also encourage them by acknowledging their positive behaviour when appropriate. When toddlers act out emotion-laden scenes in their play, such as reassuring a doll that mommy will return, toddlers learn to cope with fears and they gain the self-control that will propel them to the next stage of development. As their care provider, I will help encourage this early pretend play in a positive and safe environment. When they loose their ability to reason (also known as temper tantrums) I will give them a short 'time to talk' either to myself or quietly on their own.
Children: As children enter the preschool and kindergarten years, they begin to explore the world through indirect experiences such as stories, pictures, theatre, movie and television programs. Information gained in this way becomes the basis for imaginative play which takes children beyond the here and now.
At this stage, play activities such as drawing, building with blocks, dance, music, and crafts help children expand their knowledge and understanding of the world while developing eye-hand coordination and other motor skills. Children also become increasingly focused on peers at this stage. They benefit from play activities, props, and toys that encourage them to interact with others and engage in 'dramatic' make-believe play. I believe in supplying children with positive learning experiences away from our centre so we will be take part in weekly drop in play groups, library trips and other indoor and outdoor outings.
FLEXIBLE PROGRAM SCHEDULE
(example)
Arrival - 8:30 = Free Play/Drop Off School Children
9-9:30 = Outdoor Play
9:30-10 = Snack Time/Clean Up
10 - 11:30 = Music Time/Lunch Prep
11:30-12:15 = Lunch/Clean Up
12:15 - 1:00 = Story Time/Free Play
1:00 - 2:00 = Quiet Time for Nappers/Craft Time
2:00 - 2:45 = PU School Children/Circle Time
2:45 - 3:30 = Snack Time/Clean Up
3:30 - 4:30 = Outside Play/Preschool Time
4:30 - 5:00 = Free Play/Clean Up/Home Time
FREE PLAY: During this time children are free to choose from various play centers available such as - Blocks, Puzzles, Dress Up, Building Toys, Books, Listen & Read Story Tapes, Felt Stories, Water Play, Rice Table, Puppets, Learning Board Games, Activity Games, Dance, Play dough, Cars, etc.
MUSIC TIME: This is usually one of the children's favorite times of the day. I provide a large box of musical instruments, each child chooses one and either makes their own lovely sounds or tries to follow along with a CD. We then pass the instrument on to another and then carry on. Sometimes the children are in a silly mood and want to incorporate dancing and some times they are happy to sit and play the instrument, usually it's never quite and you can probably hear us banging cymbals and shaking tambourines if you happen to come early. During our theme months I teach the children about other various instruments, where they come from and what they're made out of.
CRAFT TIME: This is a time for children to get mucky, so I suggest dressing your child in play clothes so there are no upset feelings when a favorite dress has gotten paint accidentally spilled on it. We like to experiment with all types of art medians such as; paint, clay, beads, coloring, gluing, chalk, bubble painting and so on.
CIRCLE TIME: This is a Caregiver directed learning time when we sing, dance, do movement activities and group games. We participate in finger plays and children listen to stories and share ideas. We also talk about important safety issues like fire & earth quake drills and our favorites list. This gives the children an opportunity to help me plan up coming activities.
OUTSIDE PLAY: All children will be properly supervised at all times, if one child needs to use the bathroom, we all go inside.
Our outdoor play space has many places for children to explore such as, 3 climbers, play house, tree house, sand box, slides, swings, ride on toys, soccer & other balls, tricycles, tire swing, rocking couch and children's gardening equipment.
On hot days I will set up a sprinkler for the children to run through to help the children cool down. A canopy will be set up for added sun protection, hats will be worn and all children will have sun screen applied.
Outdoor play is an important part of our daily program and as required by licensing we will be going outside everyday regardless of the weather, excluding severe weather. When rainy and cold, we play in the sandbox or covered areas. Children need to have appropriate seasonal clothing supplied at all times. Please refer to our enrollment supply list for more info.
We are usually a very active bunch during the day, especially when we have extra outdoor time on nice days. With all the activity, occasionally some children get very tired and may fall asleep on the drive home or soon after dinner, so I suggest not making any huge plans after pick up as it may result in a very tired, grumpy child.
QUIET TIME: In keeping with Licensing requirements, it is mandatory that all children have a rest period. Young children who require a nap, rest in the nap room. I will supply a crib, playpen, cot or bed for those that need it. All bedding will be kept for only that child to use and will be washed at least once a week.
I have found through experience that most children under age 3 usually take naps between 10-11 and/or 1 - 2, these times are usually flexible. Some times we may be mid walk/drive when a child falls asleep and most handle the change in routine fine and usually sleep where we are. I will not force any child to nap, nor will I try to keep a child from falling asleep, this is because I respect the child and what their bodies are telling them what they may or may not need.
Children who do not nap will be directed to a quiet activity in consideration to the children napping. Usual activities are crafts, stories and/or the occasionally movie such as Thomas, Magic School Bus, Franklin, Blues Clues, Little Einstein, Dora or Diego. TV watching is kept to a minimum, usually less then 2 hours per week, less during nice weather.
PRESCHOOL TIME: These are Caregiver directed learning experiences where children will be taught the alphabet, numbers, their name, shapes, colors, matching, sorting and sequencing. These learning times will be centered around our monthly Themes between September through to June. During July & August there will be more relaxed summer based themes like camping, nature forest and ocean life.
I will also teach some basic Sign Language, if you would like a Sign Chart to learn along with your child please let me know. Teaching Sign Language at such a young age (as young as 3 months) has been proven to reduce tantrums and frustration in babies and toddlers as it gives the child the ability to communicate before full speech has been established.
These activities may change as the children's developmental needs change.
