Daycare.com Forum
Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Morning Activities, First Arrivals
daycare 12:48 PM 06-19-2012
Not sure if this has been covered before, however, this morning for the first time since this client has been here in over a year, I was asked why I don't have a morning activity set up at 7:25am. Also, I don't open until 7:45, I just open earlier for this one family, so I am still setting up when they arrive.
I have the kids participate in free choice play. Always have.
How many of you have a morning activity set up? If so, what is it?
What do you guys offer for the kids to do first thing in the morning.
Tv, games, free choice???
I was a little taken back this morning by DCM. I think mostly because they have been here over a year and they are just now speaking up about it?????
I have the kids participate in free choice play. Always have.
How many of you have a morning activity set up? If so, what is it?
What do you guys offer for the kids to do first thing in the morning.
Tv, games, free choice???
I was a little taken back this morning by DCM. I think mostly because they have been here over a year and they are just now speaking up about it?????
WImom 01:09 PM 06-19-2012
I just have free choice since I open at 7:00 and breakfast is at 7:30. I'm usually making breakfast and greeting arrivals.
I wouldn't expect you to have something that early.
I wouldn't expect you to have something that early.
Blackcat31 01:19 PM 06-19-2012
I have 3 choices of activities for the kids to do until EVERYONE arrives and we begin our normal routine. I switch up the 3 activities every so often to prevent boredom.
pootmcgoot 01:20 PM 06-19-2012
Wow. She sounds rude!
jojosmommy 01:22 PM 06-19-2012
My dck read books until everyone arrives and starts breakfast. Everyday. Some read 5 min others longer, all depends on the sched that am. Keeps them from getting too loud while my kids are still sleeping and keeps them out of my dh's face early
.
.
spud912 01:30 PM 06-19-2012
Ditto with pp, I have free play so I can get breakfast ready. The kids have activities all day here, so the free play time in the morning and afternoon is important IMO.
daycare 01:31 PM 06-19-2012
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
I have 3 choices of activities for the kids to do until EVERYONE arrives and we begin our normal routine. I switch up the 3 activities every so often to prevent boredom.
thanks BC for responding......what are the activities that you offer...I have 3 choices of activities for the kids to do until EVERYONE arrives and we begin our normal routine. I switch up the 3 activities every so often to prevent boredom.
I do have my centers that are always out, but I do not allow for them to be used in the early morning hours before breakfast. WAY too much going on with trying to meet and greet as well as cooking breakfast.
Yeah i thought it was a little rude, but at the same time I guess some what valid.....
daycare 01:33 PM 06-19-2012
Originally Posted by jojosmommy:
My dck read books until everyone arrives and starts breakfast. Everyday. Some read 5 min others longer, all depends on the sched that am. Keeps them from getting too loud while my kids are still sleeping and keeps them out of my dh's face early.
same here. I have all of the basic toys out, books, color books/ crayons and legos.My dck read books until everyone arrives and starts breakfast. Everyday. Some read 5 min others longer, all depends on the sched that am. Keeps them from getting too loud while my kids are still sleeping and keeps them out of my dh's face early
.
saved4always 01:38 PM 06-19-2012
At opening, we have breakfast (if the kids brought it) and free play. We don't have any group activities like circle time until about 9 a.m. when most children will have arrived. IMO, it would be difficult for you to do an activity while new arrivals are being dropped off. Free play is not a bad thing at all. Children need to be able to entertain themselves and don't need everything to be scheduled. I don't understand why some parents think it is a bad thing if their children are not directed in what to do all the time.
Does this family realize you are opening early for them? If so, I don't know why they would think that your group activities would be started before you are officially open and before any of the other children arrive.
Maybe you should "remind" them that your official opening is at 7:45 so any activities are set up and done sometime after that time.
Does this family realize you are opening early for them? If so, I don't know why they would think that your group activities would be started before you are officially open and before any of the other children arrive.
Maybe you should "remind" them that your official opening is at 7:45 so any activities are set up and done sometime after that time.
saved4always 01:42 PM 06-19-2012
Originally Posted by spud912:
Ditto with pp, I have free play so I can get breakfast ready. The kids have activities all day here, so the free play time in the morning and afternoon is important IMO.
This is how we are...early morning and late afternoon, when most drop offs and pick ups are done, are our free play times. When most kids are at the center is when directed activities are done.Ditto with pp, I have free play so I can get breakfast ready. The kids have activities all day here, so the free play time in the morning and afternoon is important IMO.
Blackcat31 01:48 PM 06-19-2012
Originally Posted by daycare:
thanks BC for responding......what are the activities that you offer...
I do have my centers that are always out, but I do not allow for them to be used in the early morning hours before breakfast. WAY too much going on with trying to meet and greet as well as cooking breakfast.
Yeah i thought it was a little rude, but at the same time I guess some what valid.....
Books are one activity in one corner, another activity are the giant duplo blocks and the other choice is plastic animals and the rug with zoo trails and stuff on it. thanks BC for responding......what are the activities that you offer...
I do have my centers that are always out, but I do not allow for them to be used in the early morning hours before breakfast. WAY too much going on with trying to meet and greet as well as cooking breakfast.
Yeah i thought it was a little rude, but at the same time I guess some what valid.....
The activites I put out are group activities and require little or no supervision from me.
I rotate them up now and then but the activities are all things that require little supervision and lots of fun for the kids.
cheerfuldom 01:50 PM 06-19-2012
I wouldnt worry about her comments.
My first arrives here at 730 but that is an hour before the rest of them come. We do nothing special. She plays on her own and when the other kids show up, we head outside.
My first arrives here at 730 but that is an hour before the rest of them come. We do nothing special. She plays on her own and when the other kids show up, we head outside.
daycare 02:05 PM 06-19-2012
Originally Posted by cheerfuldom:
I wouldnt worry about her comments.
My first arrives here at 730 but that is an hour before the rest of them come. We do nothing special. She plays on her own and when the other kids show up, we head outside.
I don't think her comment bothered me as much as it surprised me. It took a year for her to either notice, care or to build the courage to say something....lol I wouldnt worry about her comments.
My first arrives here at 730 but that is an hour before the rest of them come. We do nothing special. She plays on her own and when the other kids show up, we head outside.
I don't intend to change how I do things, but will tell mom WHY I have to do things the way that I do them once again....lol But that's ok. It's how things go.
MizzCheryl 05:50 PM 06-19-2012
My activity would be lay down a cot till 8:00am
SilverSabre25 05:56 PM 06-19-2012
Free play here...no need for structured activities every hour of the day!
daycare 05:57 PM 06-19-2012
Originally Posted by Clueless:
My activity would be lay down a cot till 8:00am
lol.....I can see DCM face right now if I said that....lolMy activity would be lay down a cot till 8:00am
Mom&Provider 12:06 PM 06-20-2012
Maybe she heard from a friend that her daycare does such and such first thing and that's what made her question? Maybe she hadn't thought of it prior...like I'm sure most parents wouldn't...it is EARLY after all!?
I don't serve breakfast here, unless the child's parent says they hadn't eaten much or the child asks me directly (it's in my contract). We wait on my main level until everyone arrives, books, music, maybe even TV
then go into our playroom, then outside once everyone is settled in and after a morning snack. I do allow a fair amount of free play here too though, so maybe my rules are a bit less structured then what most here offer.
I don't serve breakfast here, unless the child's parent says they hadn't eaten much or the child asks me directly (it's in my contract). We wait on my main level until everyone arrives, books, music, maybe even TV
then go into our playroom, then outside once everyone is settled in and after a morning snack. I do allow a fair amount of free play here too though, so maybe my rules are a bit less structured then what most here offer.
EntropyControlSpecialist 12:16 PM 06-20-2012
Free play. Sometimes I play as well (or my husband), other times we are busy cooking breakfast and the child plays on their own.
Abigail 12:26 PM 06-20-2012
My drop offs are at 7:15, 7:35 and 8 am. Then we eat breakfast at 8:15 once everyone is finished eating they still get free play until 9:30. That gives them one whole hour together to play together and we do our bathroom breaks/diapers and clean up the kitchen during that time. It's a relaxed morning. Then we go into circle time at 9:30.
I would never do anything structed before 9 at least because i'm NOT awake and energized. Don't expect kids to be either. As long as they are safe and happy and have something to keep them busy it's all good!
I have my schedule posted on the wall in the playroom but none of my parents come into the playroom and none have asked. Do you post a schedule? I run parents through our day when they get enrolled.
I would never do anything structed before 9 at least because i'm NOT awake and energized. Don't expect kids to be either. As long as they are safe and happy and have something to keep them busy it's all good!
I have my schedule posted on the wall in the playroom but none of my parents come into the playroom and none have asked. Do you post a schedule? I run parents through our day when they get enrolled.
SilverSabre25 12:26 PM 06-20-2012
daycare, from what I remember you serve a pretty high-end set of families--is that right? I remember that your clients tend to be...high maintenance. Which is a nice way of putting some of the tales you've told us!
Anyway, you probably need to have some sort of defined thing for the kids to do or at least a fancy-sounding speech that basically says, in fancy language, that letting the kids just play in the morning is fine and beneficial. You could say something like, "In the morning between arrival time and breakfast, we allow the children to self-select their own activities from a limited selection of options. This helps foster independence and decision-making skills and is beneficial for a young child's development."
Or something all fancy-schmancy like that, to appease the parents and their crazy tendency to want control over every little aspect of a child's day.
EDIT: on second thought, I really like what I just wrote...I'm totally stealing that (from myself, lol) and sticking it in my handbook...
Anyway, you probably need to have some sort of defined thing for the kids to do or at least a fancy-sounding speech that basically says, in fancy language, that letting the kids just play in the morning is fine and beneficial. You could say something like, "In the morning between arrival time and breakfast, we allow the children to self-select their own activities from a limited selection of options. This helps foster independence and decision-making skills and is beneficial for a young child's development."
Or something all fancy-schmancy like that, to appease the parents and their crazy tendency to want control over every little aspect of a child's day.
EDIT: on second thought, I really like what I just wrote...I'm totally stealing that (from myself, lol) and sticking it in my handbook...
daycare 12:32 PM 06-20-2012
Originally Posted by SilverSabre25:
daycare, from what I remember you serve a pretty high-end set of families--is that right? I remember that your clients tend to be...high maintenance. Which is a nice way of putting some of the tales you've told us!
Anyway, you probably need to have some sort of defined thing for the kids to do or at least a fancy-sounding speech that basically says, in fancy language, that letting the kids just play in the morning is fine and beneficial. You could say something like, "In the morning between arrival time and breakfast, we allow the children to self-select their own activities from a limited selection of options. This helps foster independence and decision-making skills and is beneficial for a young child's development."
Or something all fancy-schmancy like that, to appease the parents and their crazy tendency to want control over every little aspect of a child's day.
EDIT: on second thought, I really like what I just wrote...I'm totally stealing that (from myself, lol) and sticking it in my handbook...
lol OMG I LOVE YOU......hahahahahahah YES you hit it on the nose.daycare, from what I remember you serve a pretty high-end set of families--is that right? I remember that your clients tend to be...high maintenance. Which is a nice way of putting some of the tales you've told us!
Anyway, you probably need to have some sort of defined thing for the kids to do or at least a fancy-sounding speech that basically says, in fancy language, that letting the kids just play in the morning is fine and beneficial. You could say something like, "In the morning between arrival time and breakfast, we allow the children to self-select their own activities from a limited selection of options. This helps foster independence and decision-making skills and is beneficial for a young child's development."
Or something all fancy-schmancy like that, to appease the parents and their crazy tendency to want control over every little aspect of a child's day.
EDIT: on second thought, I really like what I just wrote...I'm totally stealing that (from myself, lol) and sticking it in my handbook...
Don't get me wrong, I love ALL of my DCP I really do. (don't ask me that very question 8 months ago lol)
I do a lot here. By saying FREE play, I just think that it does not appease them to hear it put this way...... I will offer Fau play- I will def. use the definition that you gave me.
My clients are:
2 lawyers, husband wife
1 dentist
1 hygenist
1 works for social services state lic
1 works for county lic
Guess what..................EVERY single one of my mothers do NOT work, except 2. I have 9 families that I work with......
SilverSabre25 12:42 PM 06-20-2012
Originally Posted by daycare:
lol OMG I LOVE YOU......hahahahahahah YES you hit it on the nose.
Don't get me wrong, I love ALL of my DCP I really do. (don't ask me that very question 8 months ago lol)
I do a lot here. By saying FREE play, I just think that it does not appease them to hear it put this way...... I will offer Fau play- I will def. use the definition that you gave me.
My clients are:
2 lawyers, husband wife
1 dentist
1 hygenist
1 works for social services state lic
1 works for county lic
Guess what..................EVERY single one of my mothers do NOT work, except 2. I have 9 families that I work with......
why, thank you! Glad to be of service lol OMG I LOVE YOU......hahahahahahah YES you hit it on the nose.
Don't get me wrong, I love ALL of my DCP I really do. (don't ask me that very question 8 months ago lol)
I do a lot here. By saying FREE play, I just think that it does not appease them to hear it put this way...... I will offer Fau play- I will def. use the definition that you gave me.
My clients are:
2 lawyers, husband wife
1 dentist
1 hygenist
1 works for social services state lic
1 works for county lic
Guess what..................EVERY single one of my mothers do NOT work, except 2. I have 9 families that I work with......
I have an early childhood degree; six years of college and $50k in student loans ought to at least give me the ability to "talk the talk". I really like the definition that I wrote up there, too. My handbook needed revising...:P
My3cents 10:21 AM 06-22-2012
I do a lot here. By saying FREE play, I just think that it does not appease them to hear it put this way...... I will offer Fau play- I will def. use the definition that you gave me.
I think if you say Fau play.......one of your parents is going to hear "FART" and be like.....huh?
Technically Fart play could be true because it is just about that time when they start loading up the diapers-
Then again you could say- We offer Free, Fau foo play, for your little foo foo Gosh I am just in rare form
Hey Gals- Guess what?
ITS FRIDAY
Hope everyone has a great weekend. Thank you for the week full of chats- You all keep me alive
I think if you say Fau play.......one of your parents is going to hear "FART" and be like.....huh?
Technically Fart play could be true because it is just about that time when they start loading up the diapers-
Then again you could say- We offer Free, Fau foo play, for your little foo foo
Gosh I am just in rare form Hey Gals- Guess what?
ITS FRIDAY
Hope everyone has a great weekend. Thank you for the week full of chats- You all keep me alive
GotKids 10:38 AM 06-22-2012
I have new books set out in the reading area, things like mr.potato head on the group work tables and the lego and bead tables are open. I open at 6 am but kids trickle in until 830.
itlw8 11:09 AM 06-22-2012
this is my time for child directed activites. ( free play)