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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Need Ideas To Keep The Littles Busy Before Pick Up
SunshineMama 03:13 PM 04-10-2012
I need ideas for the last hour of daycare before pick up.
I have 6 kids total, and 4 leave around the same time. The last hour before pick up is chaotic. I don't have any formal activities planned, and we can't stay in the play room because it is on a different floor and I cant leave the kiddos to get to the door. I have toys/activities where they can play before pick up, but the kids always want to run around, check to see if mom and dad are here yet, etc.
I need quiet, calm activities that will keep them consistently busy everyday, for a minimum of 30 minutes. All kids are 1, 1, 3, 3, and 4, 4. I am mostly concerned with the 1 and (very young) 3 year olds.
One of the 1's (my dd) always whines and wants to be clingy and held before pick up time. The other 1 is still only crawling and wants to crawl all over the house. The 3 year olds are sibs and want to go nuts.
Everyone is usually so well behaved! Play doh gets messy but works. Need more ideas thanks!
I have 6 kids total, and 4 leave around the same time. The last hour before pick up is chaotic. I don't have any formal activities planned, and we can't stay in the play room because it is on a different floor and I cant leave the kiddos to get to the door. I have toys/activities where they can play before pick up, but the kids always want to run around, check to see if mom and dad are here yet, etc.
I need quiet, calm activities that will keep them consistently busy everyday, for a minimum of 30 minutes. All kids are 1, 1, 3, 3, and 4, 4. I am mostly concerned with the 1 and (very young) 3 year olds.
One of the 1's (my dd) always whines and wants to be clingy and held before pick up time. The other 1 is still only crawling and wants to crawl all over the house. The 3 year olds are sibs and want to go nuts.
Everyone is usually so well behaved! Play doh gets messy but works. Need more ideas thanks!
cheerfuldom 03:19 PM 04-10-2012
We do coloring and other activities at my dining room table. Everyone goes in a booster seat or high chair so there is no chaos at the door and that type of thing. We dont have a TV in our playroom but sometimes I will put on a movie for that last 30 minutes or so because like you said, it does get crazy and they all want to go when the first one leaves!
DBug 03:46 PM 04-10-2012
We do Tot Trays (google it for ideas) for the last half-hour if we're not outside playing. I only get the trays out at this time (I actually use containers with lids, so that everything is easily storeable and ready to go when I need it), and everyone works on one tray at a time. They can trade with someone else when and if someone else wants to trade.
It works pretty well most of the time. It keeps the playroom clean, everyone's contained and occupied and there's no fighting or silliness while I'm talking to parents when they pick-up. Usually the kids are so focused, I have to tell them their parent is there, even though they can see them coming out the window
.
It works pretty well most of the time. It keeps the playroom clean, everyone's contained and occupied and there's no fighting or silliness while I'm talking to parents when they pick-up. Usually the kids are so focused, I have to tell them their parent is there, even though they can see them coming out the window
.
mom2many 04:31 PM 04-10-2012
I read stories to them or we all sit on the floor and work on puzzles. When it's nice we will go outside and play ball, bubbles or chalk while waiting for everyone to get picked up.
Meeko 06:40 PM 04-10-2012
We turned one of the bedrooms at the end of a hallway (house is one level) into a media room. After we clean up the playroom, we wash up, have a drink and then head down to the media room. My son goes with them and they do a variety of quiet activities. He reads books, they color, they do floor puzzles etc. I do not have any TV service at all, but we sometimes watch a movie DVD if it's a holiday time or if it falls in with our weekly themes. For instance we watched Finding Nemo when we did our ocean week.
The children know that they are not allowed to run down the hallway when the doorbell goes. I answer the door and will call the child being picked up. Only that child is allowed to come. That way I get one on one with the parent if I need to talk about anything. The child is not distracted by anything and goodbyes are usually quick.
The children know that they are not allowed to run down the hallway when the doorbell goes. I answer the door and will call the child being picked up. Only that child is allowed to come. That way I get one on one with the parent if I need to talk about anything. The child is not distracted by anything and goodbyes are usually quick.
Meyou 03:33 AM 04-11-2012
We go outside and chalk in the driveway, go out in the yard or the kids sit at the table with sensory type stuff. Puzzles, sensory bins (pasta and rice, not messy ones), blocks etc. The playroom is closed down at 445pm everyday.