schedule for kids?

Question

tommorow I'm going to be watching three children for the first time. I want to to know what kind of schedule i can put them on and if there are any activites song anything that we can do everyday so they have fun

Answer 1

I feel that if you are going to be caring for these children regularly, then they should follow the rules and schedules of your household. Kids are very adaptable, they catch on to routines fairly quickly and will learn that things go according to a certain routine at your house, that is different from at theirs.

If you don't have much of an idea of a routine yet, definitely try to get one worked out for tomorrow. Start by scheduling the necessities-- meal times, snack times, potty breaks (if any are in the 2-4 age group), nap/quiet time. The naptime you should try to stick to what the parents do at home. After that, make sure you schedule a quiet but interesting activity for just after meals and snacks; you will need a few minutes to clean up after them and will find it difficult if they aren't preoccupied. That activity can be part of your schedule as well. I used to pull out paper & crayons for that, for kids old enough to draw with reduced supervision. Even poking my head back in the room every minute or two, I still had to spend some time with a Magic Eraser cleaning the walls!

Try to have the children who are old enough (18 months, give or take a few months) help pick up their messes and toys when transitioning from one activity to another. Make up a lame clean-up song; you may think it stinks but it will work and the little ones will help! But this will help cut back on the utter destruction your house is about to suffer. Give 5 minute warnings-- in 5 min. we will pick up toys for lunch. Don't look for perfection-- clean up for approx. 5 min. and then move on to lunch. It's most important just to keep the mess under control somewhat, and to involve the children in the cleanup process. They may not ever have to pick up toys at home, but they will learn quickly that at your house, they do, and it's fun!

I could write even more, but it's getting late here. Good luck tomorrow, and try to relax and enjoy it as much as possible!

Answer 2

Are you going to be watching these children daily? I am a first grade teacher, 12 years experience, and Masters degree. A schedule is very important. Children generally find comfort in rotoutine. There are fewer discipline problems when things are kept on somewhat of a schedule. Starting your day with some sort of calendar--what day it is, the month, the season and weather is great. There are many fun songs to sing about the days of the week and months. You can search on-line. Games and centers including free play, puzzles, blocks, make-believe, puppets, etc. Then a morning snack and reading books is a great way to transition. You might want to follow this by 30 minutes of quiet time where kids rest or read on their own, write or draw so they have some down time. If weather permits, outside play, then lunch. A craft, cooking activity, group bingo, hokey pokey or exercise and dancing can follow. Then more reading and maybe some sort of dice, cards, or board games. Some songs or nursery rhymes can be incorporated throughout the day. I recommend Dr. Jean CDs. Have fun and be flexible! I seriously have found when I tell the kids, no matter how young what our schedule is and what we will be doing next is helpful to the children and myself.

Answer 3

Follow whatever schedule, if any, that the parent's give you. If children are not used to a schedule, putting one on them will make them very difficult to deal with.

The main thing to remember with kids is to keep them entertained. Play games, draw, watch movies--whatever they like to do, as long as it's safe and allowed by the parents.

Answer 4

Check with their mother about their current schedule and follow that. Kids thrive on schedule and become onfusedand cranky if their scheule changes in some way. As for activities, you weren't specific about their ages so I'm unable to answer that. So, to answer that, ak their mother what their favorite activities are, both as a unit, as well as individually, and work from there. Good Luck!!!

Answer 5

kids have no sense of time. I let the kids I babysat watch Madeline at 12:00 eveyday. Then I could use that as a time reference. After Madeline is nap time. After Madline we clean the house. We eat just before Madeline is one. It worked well

Answer 6

it depends on what time you get them and their ages when you get them make sure you check and see if they have eaten if not make them a meal whatever it may be (breakfast,lunch, or dinner) after they eat you can let the children play while you clean up after cooking then you can go in with them and engage in playing a group game such at i spy or take them outside and let them play tag after you are done playing the game ask them if they would like to watch cartoons for a while if they cant all choose one you choose one a video or DVD that is child friendly that you wan them to see check and see if they want a snack to watch the movie with if so try popcorn or something like pretzels or animal crackers you don't want to load them down with sweets knowing children they wont sit down long enough to finish the movie so let them make suggestions on what they would like to do make sure they are clean and if younger have a clean diaper on when their parents come to get them

have fun and good luck