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Angelwings36 10:42 AM 07-20-2011
How long does it typically take you to prep lunch, serve lunch, clean up the children and the lunch space? I find my lunch time takes way too long and I don't even have a lot of prep to do?
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laundrymom 10:44 AM 07-20-2011
I start washing hands at 11. They are ready for nap
at 12.
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Angelwings36 10:48 AM 07-20-2011
Can I also ask how many children you all are serving lunch for? Probably different numbers for most.
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laundrymom 10:51 AM 07-20-2011
I have 10 plus my 10,13&17 yr olds.
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daycare 10:52 AM 07-20-2011
I prep my meals while the kids are eating their other meals...
EX: while the kids are eating breakfast, I prep everything for AM snack, during AM snack I prep lunch food. This way all I have to do is have the kids wash hands and they all clear the table for me when they are done. The helper of the day washes the table down with water.

Then they set up for naps and are down by 1. btw we sit down for lunch at 12:30....
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WImom 11:03 AM 07-20-2011
11:30 -12:45 is lunch prep, serve, eat, cleanup, potty and hand washing. Start storytime 12:45

I have 7-9 summer (6-7 during school)
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SunflowerMama 11:27 AM 07-20-2011
I start prepping at 11a, lunch at 11:30a, everything cleaned up by about 12/12:15, potty, brush teeth, nap at 12:45p.

I have 8-10 kids...ages 3mths - 5.
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Blackcat31 11:40 AM 07-20-2011
Originally Posted by SunflowerMama:
I start prepping at 11a, lunch at 11:30a, everything cleaned up by about 12/12:15, potty, brush teeth, nap at 12:45p.
Same here. I have 12 kids daily and they range from age 14 months to age 6 years.
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squareone 11:41 AM 07-20-2011
I have 6 kids and start preparing lunch at noon to be served at 12:30. They take about 20-25 minutes to eat and I do dishes while they are eating. I am typically done with lunch related tasks by 1:30pm (since I can't sweep or clean the table until everyone is done).
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lpperry 11:48 AM 07-20-2011
I have 4-6 kids to prep for. I make lunch from 11:05-11:15/20. It takes another 5-10 minutes or so to get everyone in high chairs, bibs on, and served. So we are usually sitting and eating by 11:25/11:30.

They are usually finished eating by 11:50 depending how quickly we sat down and I served everyone. I clear dishes as they finish, put dishes in dishwasher while they are still sitting in their chairs. Then I wipe all hands/faces and everyone is down from their chairs by 12:00. Sometimes, I still have dishes to clean up and wait until 1:00 naptime, but usually I can get most of it done. Or I get everyone down from their chairs and spend 10 minutes cleaning up while they play.

I can say that lunch prep is the hardest time of the day because everyone is usually hungry and not on their best behavior.
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