Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Day care centers usually serve children of many ages, from infants up to kindergarten age. While the day cares may vary in type and teaching philosophies, centers share many day to day activities.

  1. Arrival

    • --- The transition from home to school is an important marker for the day. Parents should drop the child off in a matter-of-fact manner. If the child becomes upset, leaving quickly works best to prevent an escalating emotional scene.
      --- Having a morning meal at the center gives children the chance to settle in for the day at their own pace. Adults should sit at the table to help open packages and eat a small snack with the group to model table manners.

    Learning Centers

    • Children participate in self-initiated activities in learning centers. The most common example is a kitchen area with a toy stove and cooking utensils, a dramatic play area with costumes and hats, and a library for quiet individual activity. Other examples are an art center and a math/science center with a manipulative table and measuring cups.

    Large Group Activity

    • This activity is usually teacher directed. Activities may include reading a book on the week's theme that will be followed by children participating in a related project. If the theme is the water and the sea, children may paint on paper shaped like boats and play with toy boats and plastic sea creatures at the water-filled manipulative table.

    Outdoor Activities

    • Children are usually scheduled to play outdoors a few times every day. Teachers help children dress appropriately and provide toys suited for their developmental level--plastic riding toys for toddlers, tricycles and bicycles for older children are standard.

    Mid-day

    • --- Before Lunch
      After playing outdoors, caregivers help children put away jackets or hats, complete toileting activities and wash their hands to prepare for lunch.
      --- Lunch
      When lunches are catered, children are encouraged to serve themselves while the caregiver holds the serving bowl or milk pitcher. Children chose the foods they want to eat and adults never force children to clean their plates. When parents provide lunch, caregivers heat or unwrap food and sit with the group conversing.
      --- Naps
      All age groups need a nap by midday. Children may rest on cribs, cots, or mats, depending on their age. Children ideally will sleep. Any children who are unable to sleep may participate in a quiet activity, such as coloring or reading.

    Afternoon

    • --- Afternoon
      Children usually have an afternoon snack right after they wake up. Afterward, they play in activity centers. Caregivers circulate among the different groups to talk to children at play. Caregivers might initiate creative movement activities and set up tactile experiences on the manipulative table.
      --- Outdoor Playtime
      Children need to go outdoors in the late afternoon because they have been inside for most of the day. Bring bubbles that children can chase and chalk for art on paved areas. Parents may begin picking up children.
      --- Closing
      Children enjoy helping adults clean up, and doing so builds independence. While you are cleaning and disinfecting, provide children with child-sized broom and dust pans that allow them to contribute to keeping their classroom clean.

      Daycare centers provide a safe, nurturing environment in which to care for infants and children. A daycare center may be set up in a commercial facility designed to accommodate many children and several employees to provide care. A daycare may also be run out of a private home in which one individual provides care for up to four children at one time. The educational requirements for a daycare director or owner may vary according to state and facility license.

      Home Daycare

      • Early childhood education is beneficial even when not required. Hair care image by anna karwowska from Fotolia.com
        The educational requirements for a home daycare vary significantly according to the state regulations concerning home daycare operations. Some states allow an individual to operate an unlicensed home daycare with up to four children and no requirements concerning education. A licensed home daycare can accept more children and hire additional employees, but the owner or director may be required to hold at least an associate's degree in early childhood development or a related field. Other states require all home daycare facilities be licensed, and some have educational requirements regardless of the daycare licensing status. If you are interested in opening a home daycare, verify the legal requirements in your state.

      Commercial Daycare

      • Daycare centers are required by law to report neglect or abuse. child playing image by Christopher Hall from Fotolia.com
        Individuals working in a licensed, commercial daycare facility are typically required to be enrolled in or have completed at least some coursework in childhood development studies. To be eligible to run a commercial daycare on behalf of an owner or as the owner, you would typically be required to hold an associate's, bachelor's or master's degree in education, child psychology, early childhood development or health and human services. The training provided by these educational degree programs provides the knowledge needed to identify childhood illnesses, provide quality care, effectively interact with parents, note possible signs of abuse and take appropriate action according to state laws.

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