Sample Format for Home Daycare

If you have decided to open a home daycare, keep in mind that routine is very important to children. Having a set routine, with specific times for different activities, will help children feel both comfortable and secure.
Getting into a routine does not mean that you will be doing the same thing every day, day after day. Instead, a good routine is a way to help organize your time, in order to provide a wide range of healthy and fun activities for the children in your care.

Types

A sample routine for a full day might be:

8:00-8:30 am. Breakfast time.
8:30-9:00 am. Story time.
9:00-10:00 am. Arts and crafts time.
10:00-10:30 am. Fun and games.
10:30-11:00 am. Morning snack.
11:00-11:30 am. Morning nap.
11:30-12:00 am. Music time.
12:00-12:30 pm. Lunch time.
12:30-1:00 pm. Active games.
1:00-2:00 pm. Play time.
2:00-2:30 pm. Afternoon snack.
2:30-3:00 pm. Afternoon nap/quiet time.
3:00-4:00 pm. Educational activities.
4:00-5:00 pm. Outside time.
5:00-5:30 pm. Dinner time.
5:30-6:00 pm. Wrapping up time.

Types

An after school daycare format:
(Allow about 30 minutes for each activity listed)

First 30 minutes-settle in
After School Snack
Active Play Time
Homework or Study Time
Arts and Crafts
Cleanup time

Types

A summer daycare for older children, sample format:

8:00-8:30 am. Breakfast
8:30-9:30 am. Art activities
9:30-10:30 am. Active play, (indoor or out)
10:30-11:30 am. Educational Activities
11:30-12:00 am. Cooking\Meal prep (together with children)
12:00-12:30 pm. Lunch time
12:30-1:30 pm. Nature Hike or Nature projects
1:30-2:30 pm. Creative play (puppets, dress up, role playing, and so forth)
2:30-3:00 pm. Afternoon snack
3:00-4:00 pm. Board games/card games
4:00-4:30 pm. Read Aloud (books such as Tom Sawyer, Pippi Longstocking and so forth )
4:30-5:00 pm. Cooking/Dinner Prep. (together with children)
5:00-5:30 pm. Dinner time
5:30-6:00 pm. Cleanup time

Considerations

A good routine should always include some active play, as well as educational activities, and creative features. Providing all of these features for the children in your care may seem like a lot of work and effort, but the benefits will be evident. Children will be more content. You will find that you experience fewer behavior problems, if you keep kids busy and provide a variety of fun activities and learning experiences for them.

Considerations

A good routine always revolves around the children's needs, and schedules. The schedules suggested in the sample formats are given to help get you started in planning a more personal schedule for the children you work with. As you get to know each child, it may become apparent that nap times need to be earlier, or later. You may find that the children in your care need to eat dinner earlier, or possibly they will be eating at home with their families. Feel free to adapt these suggestions to meet the needs of the children in your care, keeping in mind that the happiest children are those who are well rested, and whose tummies are satisfied!