7.3: Daily Schedule and Transitions
- Page ID
- 233862
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Fig. 7.3. Schedule for preschool program.
Image Source: The Importance of Schedules and Routines. Head Start.gov.
Daily Schedules
Many states require child care programs to have written daily schedules. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) encourages practices in which “the curriculum guides the development of a daily schedule that is predictable yet flexible and responsive to individual needs of the children."
How do you develop a daily schedule for a group of infants and toddlers who are each on their own timetable?
This is an important question because infants and toddlers have not yet developed the ability to manage their own feelings and behavior. For infant and toddler care caregivers, creating a daily schedule that is based on responsive care routines makes good sense. Early learning researchers widely agree that adults can best support early learning when a child’s interests are central to the learning experience
As we learned in the previous chapter, predictable consistent daily routines support young children in knowing what to expect and what is expected of them, leading to fewer disruptive behaviors. A consistent daily schedule and step-by-step routines give children a predictable day. Schedules and routines in group settings help children:
- feel safe, secure, comfortable, and in control of their environment
- know what is happening now and what will happen next
- know how to do an activity or task
- engage in learning
What is the difference between a schedule and a routine?
- a schedule represents the big picture and includes main activities that happen across the day
- a daily schedule is responsive and sensitive to each infant and toddler in your setting
- focus on individual needs
- particularly important for babies who are not yet able to regulate their own needs and bodies to accommodate a group schedule
- routines such as diapering, sleeping, and feeding should happen when each child needs them, not on a clock or a strict schedule
- routines are the steps needed to complete each part of the schedule.
Are infant and toddler schedules and routines different?
- Infants
- each child should be on their own individualized schedule of naps, feeding, diapering and play routines.
- the infant’s day should be consistent from one day to the next
- routines should flow in a consistent way that allow infants to focus on their play and learning
- each child should be on their own individualized schedule of naps, feeding, diapering and play routines.
- Toddlers
- a uniform group schedule that all children follow may can be established for some activities
- opportunities to explore and practice skill-building allow children to build confidence in their abilities
Transition Times
When a group of children is being asked to shift from one activity or task to another in a relatively short period of time.
Planning Transition Times
- develop well-planned transition times between routines to help manage behavior
- caregivers should plan on transition times requiring all your attention and focus
- move children quickly from one routine to another
- make this time engaging with a fun activity or song
- usually the most difficult and stressful parts of the day in childcare
- lots of movement can mean confusion, lack of structure or chaos
- can be difficult for some children to react to
- developmentally, toddlers are not good at waiting or being patient
Sources
- Taintor, Amanda. The Daily Schedule. Caregiving Practices- Routines. Infant and Toddler Care and Development 2e. LibreTexts Social Sciences Library. August 2023. Shared under a mixed 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Amanda Taintor, Todd LaMarr, Wendy Ruiz, Martina Marquez, Emily Elam, Amy Carnahan, and Adrienne Seegers (ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative) .
- The Importance of Schedules and Routines. Head Start.gov.