Entertaining the Kids All Day?

[Blackcat31]

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.

Per state licensing rules or per accreditation (via NAEYC etc) rules?

If it is a state licensing rule can you post how that is worded?

[CityGarden]

Like others have said you need to find your balance and what works best for you.... My program has shorter hours so other than nap time or time my assistant is focus on the dcks or they are napping I am fully engaged with them.

Engaged (for me) does not mean on the floor entertaining or guiding their play.... I have a circle time each day, and plan centers (some centers are guided, i.e. cooking or preparing snack together others are self-directed, i.e. play kitchen / dress up area) but the bulk of my engaged time is observing and allowing them to direct or engage me in their play..... being available (not my my phone/laptop of cleaning) to be invited into their world, listen to their stories, etc. it also means I am more available when there are conflicts to catch them early on and making them learning opportunities. I try to give myself busy work, like knitting or drawing so I am not intrusive in their play but so they know I am close by available to them.... this was something I took from my Waldorf/RIE parent classes that resonated for me.

Giving this kind of attention is not something I could sustain from 6am-6pm or even 8am-5pm and is one of many reasons my program is short hours, for me it would have to be different if it were a full day program.

Also there are floor chairs that are great! Floor Chairs

[coloradoprovider]

"Entertaining" children

The thought that we need to "entertain" children does a disservice to them and to us. Children have enough entertainment with movies, television etc. outside of daycare hours. We need to provide educational opportunities and give them free time to follow their own interests. They need a balance of adult directed and self directed play. Keeping them "entertained" would be exhausting for the adult and damaging to the child's development. I like the article at this website: https://www.screenfreeparenting.com/...edom-children/

Being bored isn't bad, it's to be welcomed as an opportunity to develop creativity.

[Georgiads]

You made my day

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.

You perfectly articulated the problem with young children today. “Learned helplessness and praise for expected behavior.”

I have a 3 year old boy who has to announce everything the does and will repeat it until he gets attention. His parents apparently think EVERYTHING he does is amazing. 🙄

[Cat Herder]

You perfectly articulated the problem with young children today. “Learned helplessness and praise for expected behavior.”

I have a 3 year old boy who has to announce everything the does and will repeat it until he gets attention. His parents apparently think EVERYTHING he does is amazing. ��

It is a constant battle. I explain to parents that I am preparing them for school (3-6), then life among their peers. Pre-K and Kindergarten teachers have 30 students. They cannot give that level of attention to any child so teaching a child to expect it is doing them a disservice. The child will be the one feeling hurt and ignored with a normal level of individual adult attention and the teacher will grow to tune them out entirely. "boy who called wolf" or "chicken little". I have a 1/6 ratio to age 6. That is already way above a normal level in pre-k or kindergarten.

I do incorporate individual learning times, for each child, and small group activities daily. I make it work by using the various drop-off and pick-up times to my advantage. Group play and center time is about peer interaction, social emotional growth, problem solving and creative play in a safe, supervised, environment. Not adult playmates.

[AmyKidsCo]

I'm very similar to Cat Herder, I have toys and materials out and they play. I plan and offer 1 structured activity every day and read before nap. I also read to them and play with them if they ask, but most of the time I observe and facilitate.

[Josiegirl]

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 .

That's my style exactly.

The thought that we need to "entertain" children does a disservice to them and to us. Children have enough entertainment with movies, television etc. outside of daycare hours. We need to provide educational opportunities and give them free time to follow their own interests. They need a balance of adult directed and self directed play. Keeping them "entertained" would be exhausting for the adult and damaging to the child's development. I like the article at this website: https://www.screenfreeparenting.com/...edom-children/

Being bored isn't bad, it's to be welcomed as an opportunity to develop creativity.

Thanks for the link; saved for further exploration.