Daily Schedule

The daily schedule provides a balance of activities throughout the children's total day. Young children cannot tell time, but they can learn the time of day by the sequence of activities and routines set in place by caregivers. Routines and daily rituals provide a sense of security and help children predict what will happen next. Children can know what happens after lunch, naptime, snack, and outside time. This allows them to feel secure and have a more positive child care experience.

A balance of large group, small group, individual, child-initiated and staff-initiated activities is very important. For younger children, most of these activities should be child initiated in individual or small groups. Do not have children younger than six years of age spend large amounts of time in staff-initiated, large group activities.

Here is a sample daily schedule for Toddlers and Preschoolers
7:00 — 8:00 Center Opens, Breakfast, Greetings
8:00 — 9:00 Free Time (Activity Centers)
9:00 — 9:30 Clean up, Circle Time, Songs, Stories, etc.*
9:30 — 9:45 Snacks
9:45 — 9:50 Wash Up
9:50 — 10:50 Small and Large Muscle Activities
10:50 — 11:45 Group Activities
11:45 — 12:15 Lunch
12:15 — 12:30 Getting Ready to Rest, Mats Out
12:30 — 1:30 Quiet Time or Nap Period
1:30 — 3:00 Free Time and Outdoor Play, depending on the weather
3:00 — 3:15 Circle Time*
3:15 — 3:30 Snacks
3:30 — 4:30 Group Activities
4:30 — 5:30 Free Time, Coloring, Painting, Stories, Activity Centers
5:30 — 6:00 Center Closes, Farewells
* Children are not required to come to circle time. Alternate quiet activities are available.