Entertaining the Kids All Day?

[thelearningtreetx]

I am a new provider and I'm curious about whether or not you entertain the kids all day?
I only have two right now (plus my own two) and I feel this (imaginary) pressure to be on the floor with them all day.

So my question is, do you play with the kids all day? Are you ever on your computer when children are present? Do you constantly have them engaged in something or do they sometimes just play while you do things around the room/house?

I don't want to put this immense pressure on myself that isn't necessary. Part of the reason I wanted to be home was to be able to get things done around the house (laundry, dishes etc) and yet I find myself saving all of that until the end of the day and then taking another hour or so to tidy up the house.

TIA!

[Cat Herder]

I set up centers that correlate to our theme before arrival. After breakfast is circle time then they are off to centers for free play.

I supervise from my desk (like right now) but do not interfere unless there is a safety issue. I purposely look busy (computer, book or writing) so they won't seek my constant praise, assistance or approval (a real problem sometimes with so much learned helplessness and praise for expected behavior).

I want them to think, create and build independently.

They play freely until time to clean up, have snack and go outside. Repeat after nap.

[Blackcat31]

Other threads on the same topic https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.p...ying+with+kids

And of course an oldie but a goodie:

https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24041&highlight=grandmother

[MarinaVanessa]

I interact a lot with the kids while they're here. I'm not "entertaining" them but we do play a lot together and do things. I guess for you it depends on what you want to do in your own daycare and what you offered your clients. Is it more like "grandma care" where you keep the kids safe, supervised and offer them a place to play or do you want to offer a more hands-on approach with activities, lessons etc. Lots of different ways to run your daycare.

[thelearningtreetx]

Thank you for the responses and for posting other threads.

I do offer preschool lessons and we do circle time, but I don't want to be on the floor all day with the kids. I guess I offer both that were mentioned above. The kids get plenty of free time to play, but we also do fine motor activities, circle time, curriculum, art etc. almost everyday.

[Cat Herder]

Thank you for the responses and for posting other threads.

I do offer preschool lessons and we do circle time, but I don't want to be on the floor all day with the kids. I guess I offer both that were mentioned above. The kids get plenty of free time to play, but we also do fine motor activities, circle time, curriculum, art etc. almost everyday.

Sounds like a great mix to me.

[MarinaVanessa]

Thank you for the responses and for posting other threads.

I do offer preschool lessons and we do circle time, but I don't want to be on the floor all day with the kids. I guess I offer both that were mentioned above. The kids get plenty of free time to play, but we also do fine motor activities, circle time, curriculum, art etc. almost everyday.

Sounds like a great balance to me. It's also important that the kids learn to play on their own and also for you to maintain a clean space.

[thelearningtreetx]

I think my mindset has a LOT to do with the school I worked at last year. We were a NAEYC accredited preschool and while I LOVED it, it was exhausting. We were not allowed to do ANYTHING while the kids were awake besides BE with them. On the floor, all the time. We got in trouble if we sat in a chair while the kids were on the floor. As a matter of fact, there were NO adult chairs in the classroom except the ones locked away for Staff Meetings. If we weren't on the floor, we were sitting at the table with them doing an activity. Basically, the kids had to be engaged in play at all times. We didn't do any sort of paperwork until nap time and we did minimal cleaning (wipe tables and quickly sweep) while our co-teacher would play with the kids.
It was HARD and mentally a challenge when we had assessments, PT conference paperwork, licensing paperwork, lesson plans, weekly and monthly newsletters, potty training and SO MUCH MORE to do besides just playing with them.
We also practiced Conscious Discipline which was time consuming, especially for some children who did not take to it as easily.

I need to get out of that mindset now that I am on my own. I remember vowing that I would NOT run my program like that because of the way I felt, and yet I feel guilty for not being on the floor constantly because it was so ingrained in my head.

[CalCare]

I think my mindset has a LOT to do with the school I worked at last year. We were a NAEYC accredited preschool and while I LOVED it, it was exhausting. We were not allowed to do ANYTHING while the kids were awake besides BE with them. On the floor, all the time. We got in trouble if we sat in a chair while the kids were on the floor. As a matter of fact, there were NO adult chairs in the classroom except the ones locked away for Staff Meetings. If we weren't on the floor, we were sitting at the table with them doing an activity. Basically, the kids had to be engaged in play at all times. We didn't do any sort of paperwork until nap time and we did minimal cleaning (wipe tables and quickly sweep) while our co-teacher would play with the kids.
It was HARD and mentally a challenge when we had assessments, PT conference paperwork, licensing paperwork, lesson plans, weekly and monthly newsletters, potty training and SO MUCH MORE to do besides just playing with them.
We also practiced Conscious Discipline which was time consuming, especially for some children who did not take to it as easily.

I need to get out of that mindset now that I am on my own. I remember vowing that I would NOT run my program like that because of the way I felt, and yet I feel guilty for not being on the floor constantly because it was so ingrained in my head.

I thought FCCERS and ECCERS specifically required you have adult seating AND I heard when they observe you for your score, they have to SEE the adult seating used or it doesn't count. So I would think an NAEYC place with no adult seating used was actually lowering their standards..?

[thelearningtreetx]

I'm honestly not sure, but our director always said that we were not allowed to sit in adult chairs. It was VERY hard on my back and knees (and I'm only 28!). Even our lab students that would come observe were told to sit on the floor with the kids. It was odd to say the least. It could have just been her own personal "rule" for us. We also couldn't have beverages that were not water out for the children to see in case the children wanted it and had to be told "no.".....God forbid.

It was a GREAT place, but some of the policies were a little odd and made for an uncomfortable work environment.

[Unregistered]

I'm honestly not sure, but our director always said that we were not allowed to sit in adult chairs. It was VERY hard on my back and knees (and I'm only 28!). Even our lab students that would come observe were told to sit on the floor with the kids. It was odd to say the least. It could have just been her own personal "rule" for us. We also couldn't have beverages that were not water out for the children to see in case the children wanted it and had to be told "no.".....God forbid.

It was a GREAT place, but some of the policies were a little odd and made for an uncomfortable work environment.

I'm not allowed to do that either and I do in home care. We're supposed model healthy eating. It could be a liability issue if a child drinks it.

[thelearningtreetx]

I'm not allowed to do that either and I do in home care. We're supposed model healthy eating. It could be a liability issue if a child drinks it.

That makes sense! I figured it was just one of the weird rules she set forth.

[Lovisa]

I read to my kiddos, we do crafts a few times a week, but a MAJORITY of the days are spent doing free play. We go outside a lot too and have fun getting dirty! All parents are different with what they want for a daycare for their kids but all my parents over the years have been super happy with my very laid back, non structured setting. We eat and nap at certain times, otherwise we just kinda have fun and do whatever! And I also do things around the house that need to be done while they are playing (always checking on them often, mostly doing stuff in the same general vicinity the kids are in). Being too structured with everything at a certain time every single day would stress me out .

[LK5kids]

I say do what feels right to you and what YOU need!

I think it's great to be on the floor for say 10-20 min. With the kids but I feel strongly that kids do not need to be entertained! I don't even think you need to be on the floor each and every day. Do it when you want to.

Kids need large blocks of time to explore and while they love adult interaction, we adults change the dynamics of play.

Kids are the experts at play and we can follow their lead, be there for support, observe and record anecdotal records, etc. but really there is nothing wrong with letting kids "do their own thing!" In fact it's preferable!

I follow a schedule. We do art about 2-3 times a week. A short circle time each day. A cooking or snack activity regularly, music and movement daily. Still they have large blocks of indoir and outdoor free play!

[momofsix]

I'm not allowed to do that either and I do in home care. We're supposed model healthy eating. It could be a liability issue if a child drinks it.

You mean you can't drink what you want in your own home?!?!? Now I've heard it all (besides alcohol of course)

When I worked at a center we had to be on the floor also and had no adult seating.
Here in my own home I do a mixture. Sometimes I'll help them get started with something if they're feeling stuck. I'm on the floor for books, circle time, and interacting with babies and younger toddlers. I don't play with bigger kids unless we're playing a game.