Preschool daily schedule template pdf how to#

Worksheets do not have a big role in the early childhood classroom, so try to find out how to meet objectives in fun and creative ways. There should be dramatic play, block play, outdoor time and tons of time to explore the classroom centers. Instead, there should be solid blocks of time for gross motor play and the development of fine motor skills as well, whether indoors or outdoors. There should not be long periods of sitting or waiting and there should not be the majority of whole group time. Play-focused schedulesĬhildren need active play! Sensory play should be woven throughout the day in daycare schedules.

Use those wait times as teaching moments to do songs, dances, read a story, play a game, etc. It isn’t developmentally appropriate for children to be sitting and waiting longer than 3 minutes if there isn’t any activity taking place according to the Early Childhood Education Rating Scale schedule checklist. Kids waiting to use the potty, waiting to eat lunch, waiting to go outside, etc. So much time in the daycare classroom can be wasted waiting. Every moment can be used as an opportunity to learn. Sing a song, play peek-a-boo, ask questions, name body parts, etc. When changing a diaper, use that as an opportunity for that one-on-one interaction. It is helpful to remember that everything you do with students, even diapering or even dramatic play, can be considered curriculum! If you have toddlers, for example, trying to fit in your lesson plans along with all the diaper changes and feeding, it doesn’t seem possible! Having a balance of domains in learning will truly help develop the whole child and help the daily daycare schedule be something enjoyable for students and even for you as the teacher.ĭevelopmentally appropriate daily schedulesĬreating a daily daycare schedule template can be difficult because you may feel like you need to cram so much into the day. If you only do whole group activities, it will stifle the learning process for many children, while if you only teach through song and art, other children will suffer. Some thrive through listening while others thrive learning visually.

You also want to make sure that you are not just doing one type of activity like math or reading or writing for the majority of the day. Only giving 10 minutes or 20 minutes isn’t enough time for students to truly engage in imaginative play. When planning out your daily daycare schedule, it’s important to make sure enough time is allotted to certain activities and that not too much time for others.įor example, when having learning centers/free playtime, it’s essential to have at least 45 minutes to an hour for students to get a solid block of time to get the most out of their play. When it comes to daily schedules, it’s important to make sure they are balanced, developmentally appropriate, and play-focused so that children can have a well-rounded learning experience. It’s important to be prepared and have the day planned out so that students can thrive with the routine that comes from having a daycare daily schedule and learn in a structured and fun environment. Kids thrive on routine, and daycare schedules allow for educators to have a predictable, yet flexible outline of how the day will go. If you’ve been in the daycare business for even a day, you know the importance of having a daily daycare schedule.

Preschool daily schedule template pdf