| School aged kids are back to school and fall is | | | | easiest for you and your group that is in your |
| here for most of us. What can we do as Parents, | | | | setting, but the main point here is that when |
| Early Childhood Educators and Home Care | | | | these routines and schedules are followed closely |
| Providers? | | | | everyday, children become familiar with routines |
| Get the children in to a "school" like routine. This | | | | and structure and will thus have an easier time |
| will help our children learn routine, and help to | | | | when entering grade school. |
| better equip them when they start grade school. | | | | Even if you are a parent at home with only your |
| If you work at a day care chances are the | | | | own children, scheduling your day is a great thing |
| center has a routine to work for them including | | | | to do with your children as it will benefit them in |
| scheduling for breaks, lunch breaks, etc. If you | | | | the same way. |
| are at home or looking for a change to the daily | | | | Fun Food Tasting Ideas: |
| schedule, here is a sample idea. | | | | With fall approaching, some wonderful foods to |
| Sample Schedule: | | | | talk about and taste are: |
| Morning | | | | Apples (cut up and served with different dips with |
| 6:30-8:30 Parent drop off, free play, clean up | | | | snack) |
| (7:15-*bathroom routine) | | | | Apple Cider (Let the children experience it warm |
| 8:30-9:00 Snack, clean-up, books and puzzles | | | | and cold) |
| 9:00-10:00 Outside free play, and games | | | | Maple Syrup (take a class trip to see how it's |
| 10:00-10:15 *Bathroom Routine | | | | made, can have waffles and syrup for a snack, |
| 10:15-11:15 Circle time, Art, Sensory, Dramatic | | | | or try maple syrup cookies for a treat) |
| Play, Science, Blocks, etc, Clean up | | | | Pumpkin/seeds (as a circle activity, cut top off |
| 11:15-11:30 Wash-up/*bathroom and sit for lunch | | | | and seed pumpkin, wash and roast seeds to |
| 11:30-12:15 Lunch time, wash-up | | | | show children the process, allow children to handle |
| Afternoon | | | | pulp as a unique sensory experience) |
| 12:15-2:15 Nap time and/or quiet time activities | | | | Sweet Potatoes (can try at lunch) |
| 2:15-3:30 Wake-up, *bathroom routine, clean up | | | | Cranberries (can try in cookies or plain) |
| quiet activities, snack | | | | Squash (can try at lunch) |
| 3:30-4:30 Outside free play | | | | Chili (great warm lunch idea with homemade |
| 4:30-5:30 free play, parent pick up | | | | biscuits) |
| * These bathroom routines are set up throughout | | | | Biscuits (can be made as a cooking activity and |
| the day for all children to go to the bathroom to | | | | served with lunch) |
| avoid so many children having to go at different | | | | Creamy Soups (great lunch idea with side of garlic |
| times all throughout the day, of course though, if | | | | bread or sandwiches) |
| any child had to go to the bathroom in between | | | | *For some great fall recipes using these foods be |
| those times they would be given the time to go. | | | | sure to visit our websites under the Healthy |
| This schedule can be changed to what seems | | | | Snacks section. |