Each group has its own daily schedule. The youngest babies have their own individual feeding and sleeping schedules. As babies grow, their parents and teachers work together to adapt and respond to their ever-changing needs. By around 8 months, babies get a more fixed rhythm, closer to the toddlers’ schedule.
Sample Daily Schedule for Toddlers and/or Preschoolers
Time Activity
7:00 – 8:00 Karin, Bryony or Priscilla open the doors and welcome all children in the spacious Dutch toddler group, Dutch 1, where a light breakfast is served at 7:30. Then children are greeted by more teachers who will take them to their groups.
8:00 – 9:45 Children enjoy open playtime in their primary groups. This is a time for creative, imaginary play. It is also an opportune bonding time among teachers and children, for building trust and making friends. It is often a time for special arts and crafts, so it is best for children to arrive before 9:30, so they can settle in and participate in special activities.
9:45 – 10:15 Tidy-up for Morning Snack time: “It’s clean-up time, and everybody helps. It’s tidy-up time. Put your toys away…” We sing to encourage children to put their toys away, as we prepare for snack time. Morning snack consists of a variety of fresh fruits (bananas, apples, pears, kiwi, etc.) along with wheat bread or a cracker, or similar product, maybe with toppings, and water. Children learn hygiene and manners through the routine. We wash our hands. We wait for our friends to be served. We sing a song. We say “yes, please” and “no, thank you” and ask “May I have some more?” We talk about our colorful fruits, their shapes and textures, and how healthy fruits (and veggies) are for our bodies.
10:15 – 10:45 Circle time: Every morning we have circle time once all the children have arrived. We sing our “Good Morning” song and practice greetings as each child and teacher is individually greeted and welcomed to the group. During circle time teachers sing songs, read stories and talk about the weather and about the current learning themes and events. Circle time activities are varied, yet consistent, and are age-appropriate in content and duration. Circle time may be done with children seated at tables, or in chairs in a circle, or on the floor. In nice weather we can enjoy circle time outdoors. Some groups have multiple circle times before and after snack time.
10:45- 11:00 Diapers & Nappies/Toilet Time: Preschoolers go with a teacher to the toilets. All of the children go, including those who are not yet toilet trained. Our Dutch Preschool groups have toilet facilities in their classrooms, so children use the toilet one at a time. All children in diapers are changed at this time. In the toddler groups, all children have their diapers changed.
11:00 – 12:00 Outside play: We are very lucky to be able to provide our children with a large outside play area. The groups rotate use of the front (main) play area, the sandbox and, for the older children, the gated-off parking area and the north side of the building where we enjoy messy play. Each area offers a different experiences and challenges for the children. In the front area there is a slide, building toys, cars and trikes. The sandbox is open when the weather and season allow. The children have an assortment of digging, carrying and building toys for in the sandbox. The parking area is only used in the morning and when the gate can be closed and locked. Preschoolers do obstacle courses, play with the big parachute and enjoy fun relay games. The children also get to go outside when it’s raining! Yay! We have rain suits and boots for them to wear. In any weather, inside or out, we enjoy music & movement games and activities from musical chairs and dancing to kinderYOGA.
12:00 – 12:45 Lunch Time: For lunch the children are offered wheat bread sandwiches and milk or water. They may choose from a variety of spreads for on their sandwiches (peanut butter, veggie-chicken filet, iron-rich applespread, veggie hummus or cheese). Raw vegetables like cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and bell peppers often accompany the sandwiches. During lunch time the teachers sit with the children and create a family dining experience where children are encouraged to converse with each other and with the teachers. The teachers will ask the children what they would like to have on their bread and once all the children have been served, they may start eating. We feel polite habits like waiting for each other are important to start learning at a young age. So this is repeated at all meal times. We learn to say “please” and “thank you” and to chew with our mouths closed and to swallow our food before we speak. We learn to push in our chairs and to bus our dishes.
12:45 – 13:00 Change diapers/Toilet Time: (See above)
13:00 – 15:00 Sleep and Quiet Relaxation Time: At this point in the day most children are ready for a break and a nap. The older groups place stretchers around a darkened room for the children to rest on. In the younger groups there is a separate sleeping room for the children to sleep in. The children who no longer need to sleep during this time, lay quietly on their beds with books until they are invited to move to a table for quiet play. It is important that all children get the chance to rest and reset, though we also know not all older children will need to sleep, so we try to provide a quiet and a relaxing environment for both sleepers and non-sleepers.
15:00 – 15:30 Change diapers/Toilet Time: (See above)
15:30 – 16:00 Afternoon snack: Our afternoon snack is a small (roughly 80 grams) warm meal consisting of a healthy combination of protein and veggies with rice, pasta or potatoes. Our menu is updated and rotated regularly in consultation with our Healthy Childcare Coach and our Children’s Nutritionist.
16:00 – 17:00 Outside play: The children get to enjoy more fresh air and running around with their friends. In the summertime we often enjoy a longer stay outside. In the dark winter months the toddler groups may opt for a shorter outdoor playtime and more special activities inside like an extra circle/story time or other engaging activities, like kinderYOGA. For the older children, dark winter time means the opportunity to see the moon and stars!
17:00 – 17:15 Light snack: Children enjoy raw veggies such as cherry tomatoes, colorful bell peppers, baby carrots and cucumber slices with cooled plain tea or water.
17:15 – 18:15 Inside play: At the end of the day, we see how the children are doing and if they seem to need more active or more quiet play. Teachers decide whether to have extra free play outside or to keep the children inside for more restful play.
18:15 – 19:00 End of the day: All the children present at this point of the day are gathered into the two toddler groups until they are collected.
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