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View Full Version : Daily Routine for Toddlers
rochellereavis
11-08-2008, 09:27 PM
What is your daily routine like with toddlers? I have such a hard time from keeping mine from getting bored. I know they naturally have a short attention span at 2 years old, but sometimes by the end of the day I'm out of new activities! And now it is getting very cold outside so that makes it harder. I was just wanting some suggestions from you all who have been in the daycare business for awhile! I have only been doing it for 4 months. Thanks!
mimomof4
11-09-2008, 11:17 AM
songs, finger plays, puppets, reading books... start a story and let them finish it.
Take pictures (or have them bring some from home) and each day or week ad it to a little scrapbook with a few words on each page telling about the picture. This makes a great mother's day/ father's day gift.
Collect leaves, make snow flakes for the windows...
My 2 year olds always loved to stack things... blocks, books, legos, bowls, pans, etc.
You sell candles, have them draw on a piece of paper (of course it will be messy) and you insert the paper in a votive holder and re-draw the images on the outside of the votive holder with a paint pen and voila...a great x-mas gift for parents. Votives holders I like .60 and I'm sure you have a few extra votives hanging around.
start making a few christmas ornaments, hand prints are my favorite.
Speaking of christmas have you ever made the reindeer with the child's foot and handprints? so cute.
Just a few ideas, some you may have tried.
Take pictures (or have them bring some from home) and each day or week ad it to a little scrapbook with a few words on each page telling about the picture. This makes a great mother's day/ father's day gift.
Collect leaves, make snow flakes for the windows...
My 2 year olds always loved to stack things... blocks, books, legos, bowls, pans, etc.
You sell candles, have them draw on a piece of paper (of course it will be messy) and you insert the paper in a votive holder and re-draw the images on the outside of the votive holder with a paint pen and voila...a great x-mas gift for parents. Votives holders I like .60 and I'm sure you have a few extra votives hanging around.
start making a few christmas ornaments, hand prints are my favorite.
Speaking of christmas have you ever made the reindeer with the child's foot and handprints? so cute.
Just a few ideas, some you may have tried.
LeannaL
11-10-2008, 05:10 PM
I agree. Arts and crafts activities is very effective with young kids. What activities are you currently doing with the kids?
Leanna
Leanna
TiffanyM
11-10-2008, 06:45 PM
Our day is pretty full and this is what we do......
Our Daily Schedule (http://www.growingwithgiggles.com/schedule.html)
Circle time includes a variety of activities. We start with the daily basics like calendar and talking about our weekly theme. Sometimes they are very intrigued and other times they are not as attentive, I tailor it based on their interest. The curriculum I use also includes lots of ideas each day for large motor, social, math/science, dramatic play, arts/crafts, sensory and cooking activities. I pick and choose a few that I think the kids will respond well to. Between morning snack (which is when I read a few stories) and circle time it takes up a good 1.5 hours of our morning and makes it fly by.
Are you currently using or have you looked into any curriculum programs.
Edited by: TiffanyM
Our Daily Schedule (http://www.growingwithgiggles.com/schedule.html)
Circle time includes a variety of activities. We start with the daily basics like calendar and talking about our weekly theme. Sometimes they are very intrigued and other times they are not as attentive, I tailor it based on their interest. The curriculum I use also includes lots of ideas each day for large motor, social, math/science, dramatic play, arts/crafts, sensory and cooking activities. I pick and choose a few that I think the kids will respond well to. Between morning snack (which is when I read a few stories) and circle time it takes up a good 1.5 hours of our morning and makes it fly by.
Are you currently using or have you looked into any curriculum programs.
Edited by: TiffanyM
rochellereavis
11-10-2008, 08:34 PM
Right now, we will usually do activites like puzzles, and making shapes out of play-doh(they love that) and I have an awesome educational shapes and numbers video that they are obsessed with. Sometimes we also do balloon animals. Afterlunch we may go for a walk or play out in the yard (if weather allows), and then come back in to play some more. I play piano so sometimes we sing some songs.
After that they have a snack and I usually put in Finding Nemo for them and we have some quiet time while we watch the movie and I can get a few things done around the house! They are not napping at all lately - sometimes my son will, but the other little boy is very hard to get to nap the last few weeks. So after quiet time, they play some more, or we read a few books (if i can get them engaged). I don't have a curriculum program of any kind. I think they are getting bored sometimes because we need some new toys or I just need to put some of them away and take them out again in a few weeks so they are like "new" toys. Thanks for the suggestions ladies. I will try them!
After that they have a snack and I usually put in Finding Nemo for them and we have some quiet time while we watch the movie and I can get a few things done around the house! They are not napping at all lately - sometimes my son will, but the other little boy is very hard to get to nap the last few weeks. So after quiet time, they play some more, or we read a few books (if i can get them engaged). I don't have a curriculum program of any kind. I think they are getting bored sometimes because we need some new toys or I just need to put some of them away and take them out again in a few weeks so they are like "new" toys. Thanks for the suggestions ladies. I will try them!
g*mom*of*3
11-13-2008, 05:54 AM
I find that rotating my toys helps a ton! If I think back to when I was a child , I didn't have shelves and toyboxes full of toys to choose from each day. I only had a few, and boy did they get used hard!
So, thats what I do here, I rotate every week or two, sometimes longer. When you bring those toys back out, they are very excited to have them to play with again. I also find that children are much more engaged if you are sitting there on the floor playing with them. I limit t.v. time - that way when I do turn it on, it really holds their attention and gives them a break and some down time.
Our weather is getting yucky too, so our outside time is limited :( Their favorite toy outside was the sand TABLE. So, I bought a second one and I'm going to use that inside and either put rice or beans in it.
I would go crazy if mine didn't sleep. I really look forward to that break time during the day just to regroup!
So, thats what I do here, I rotate every week or two, sometimes longer. When you bring those toys back out, they are very excited to have them to play with again. I also find that children are much more engaged if you are sitting there on the floor playing with them. I limit t.v. time - that way when I do turn it on, it really holds their attention and gives them a break and some down time.
Our weather is getting yucky too, so our outside time is limited :( Their favorite toy outside was the sand TABLE. So, I bought a second one and I'm going to use that inside and either put rice or beans in it.
I would go crazy if mine didn't sleep. I really look forward to that break time during the day just to regroup!
LeannaL
11-19-2008, 01:49 PM
g*mom*of*3: Great idea! I was just going to suggest that.
Rochelle, does that work with you? Rotating your activities. It'll be good for you and for the kids so you don't get bored doing the same thing everyday. Is that what you're doing now?
Leanna
Rochelle, does that work with you? Rotating your activities. It'll be good for you and for the kids so you don't get bored doing the same thing everyday. Is that what you're doing now?
Leanna
rochellereavis
11-19-2008, 02:53 PM
Yes I have put some of the toys away so I will be rotating them weekly. They are actually sleeping right now. The first time they have slept at the same time in weeks! I only watch my 2 year old son and another 2 year old, so I don't know how some people get 5 kids to sleep at the same time! I will be taking on the little boy's baby sister in a few months so that will be a whole new routine to get used to. Thanks for all the tips here. I appreciate it!
