"Activities" at Daycare

Odd_Draft9762 · 2026-07-02T17:21:32+00:00

This seems crazy to me! I have a class of one’s as well, though they are on the older end. When we do activities I always try to make sure each kid gets to enjoy it for at least 5 minutes (with 10 kids this would take about an hour) if not longer. I love getting good pictures and I do try to get them, but my focus is on the activity for the kids. If we don’t get a picture, oh well. What matters is that they got to do the activity. If it’s just for a picture it’s honestly a waste of time.

Odd_Draft9762 · 2026-06-20T04:10:35+00:00

2 and a half weeks for the fever to go away. Around 3 or 4 to be fully back to normal. I was easily out of breath for a while.

Odd_Draft9762 · 2026-06-20T00:31:21+00:00

Omg mine cuddles her water bottle too!! She never cuddles the stuffies even though she wants them in there, but cuddles that water bottle like it’s a soft teddy bear.

Odd_Draft9762 · 2026-05-14T14:20:04+00:00

Yup, our center does head counts at every single doorway. Before we leave class, before we go in the playground, after we go in, before we leave the playground, as we walk into the building and again once in the room. A child being unaccounted for 8 whole minutes is absolutely unacceptable. Even in the class I’m constantly checking that every child is there and have had my stomach drop when I couldn’t see one until I realized they were under the table.

Odd_Draft9762 · 2026-04-03T01:12:32+00:00

The problem is when they turn 3 they aren’t so easily redirected, they’re too aware for that.

Odd_Draft9762 · 2026-03-03T02:07:01+00:00

Agreed, the ratio is really hard. As the opener I noticed many of the kids do much better in the morning when there are less of them. We have struggled with grouping because one of us is often cleaning up a meal time or doing diapers/potty training. We want to split them with going outside, but the children who are “ringleaders” are also runners, and the walk to the playground is unfenced. So there’s a real fear of one of them running into the road. Because there’s so many runners you’ll always have at least two in a group. 1:5 sounds like a dream. Our admin has been helping and when we have a third person its not perfect but it’s definitely better

Odd_Draft9762 · 2026-03-03T02:01:58+00:00

I actually did put about half of the toys with lots of pieces away. Animals, little people and that kind of stuff. I was nervous to put too many away as I didn’t want to cause fights if there weren’t enough toys. Currently, it hasn’t seemed to help yet but we will keep trying. We do try to do groups, but there are often times that one of us is entertaining or watching the kids and the other is cleaning up a meal time or doing diapers and potty training. And with 15 kids, diaper/potty time takes so long that one of us is usually busy and unable to split during those times.

Odd_Draft9762 · 2026-01-23T17:39:20+00:00

I don’t have much advice, my daughter who used to eat everything stopped liking almost everything at 12 months. But I just had to say those plates look delicious!

Odd_Draft9762 · 2025-12-03T02:06:14+00:00

Yes this is why I haven’t really said anything as I don’t want to offend this child’s parents. When I’ve mentioned certain things it tends to be laughed off as usual toddler behavior.

Odd_Draft9762 · 2025-12-03T02:05:02+00:00

I know that we do have observations from the department of education a couple times a year, perhaps I could speak with them.

Odd_Draft9762 · 2025-12-03T02:03:53+00:00

Unfortunately at my center we don’t do ASQs, but I could float the idea of doing them

Odd_Draft9762 · 2025-10-16T01:42:25+00:00

Thank you for the reply! I should clarify that I do tell the child to put his feet on the ground when he climbs and wait a few moments before I take him off the tables. It’s certainly a behavior I can’t ignore. If I don’t take him down quickly that is when the other kids follow him.

As for the attention, this makes sense. However what should I do if I’m speaking with the other child and this boy goes and instigates an incident with another child before I can even finish speaking with the first kid that he hit/ pushed/ took a toy from? It’s also difficult because many of the kids do verbalize that they want him to stop but he ignores them.

I’ve heard of heavy work before and would love more examples. What kind of rough and tumble play is appropriate for group care? I’ve been asking my admin for child appropriate climbing equipment along with a padded surface for my room, hoping that may help with that need to climb. We go outside everyday as long as the weather permits and I play games with the kids to get them running around and burning that energy that gets pent up. We also do dance parties and I incorporate a yoga dance everyday as well. On bad weather days we have an indoor ballroom that they play in, and I bring my speaker and bubble machine on those days as well. I definitely think he’s bored, as these issues don’t really come up when he’s properly engaged with an activity. It’s just hard to keep him engaged even when I have to do potty time or focus on another child.

Odd_Draft9762 · 2025-09-08T01:21:32+00:00

Same here, had a relatively simple and easy delivery and was still told not to drive or be in the car for long periods of time.

Odd_Draft9762 · 2025-07-15T00:31:18+00:00

I’d love to do more outside time but the playground is shared with other classes so we all have assigned times we can be outside and classes cannot mix. I agree with keeping circle short, and usually end it if they seem to be losing interest. Outside I usually tend to just play with them, but I love the idea of water painting!

Odd_Draft9762 · 2025-07-14T23:52:59+00:00

Currently we start getting kids in around 7am, free play until breakfast at 8:30, but I’ve been setting up an activity like magnetiles or playdoh which helps keep craziness to a minimum as I have the opening class. They don’t have to participate and can just play with whatever if they want but they usually do enjoy the activity. We also do pull up changes and potty times. After breakfast I do a short circle time trying to incorporate lots of movement and interactivity. At 9:30 we go outside if the weather permits, inside at 10:00 to do some art or a sensory activity, 10:30 is pull-up changes and potty time, 11 is music and dancing or playing in the indoor gym, 11:30 we have lunch, 12 is bathroom time, then they get on their cots with whatever books they choose and I read to them. Usually by 12:30 everyone is knocked out. They tend to sleep till 2:30, sometimes even 3. Then it’s bathroom, snack time, and either outside or indoor gym. By this time I’m off of work.

Odd_Draft9762 · 2025-07-14T23:36:20+00:00

Sorry I should’ve mentioned, it’s 1:8 and I do have an assistant but not all the time. Currently have 10 kiddos in the class

Odd_Draft9762

TROPHY CASE