Good afternoon families,
Had an inspection this morning of the backyard. I’ll send out to those inspection reports when I get them either tomorrow or early next week. There were a few details, like I have some loose bricks by the corner of the house that she wanted to see in that gated area. And we discussed in depth where the permanent gates on the deck will be. Otherwise everything went well as far as I’m aware of. But there were a number of big changes in our day.
Please also note that for the older three girls, I got them special water containers. I am finding although the kids get lots of opportunities to have water, at the end of the day by about 3pm is the last time I offer drinks. Then I expect the kids to be able to go without water until pickup unless the parent is late and then I will offer some. However I’ve noticed with the girls running the aboat so much, that it’s great, but they work up a thirst in short order at the end of the day. So in addition to their normal eating and drinking times they are given these water containers to sip on. I cannot offer this to the younger kids as the will take each other’s and sip on each other’s drinks which is not appropriate at daycare. The older girls have been told that it is only for them and to put it back on the table when they’re done. It also gives them an opportunity to try and recognize their own names on the containers.
At drop-off parents wash their child’s hands and place personal items on their child’s hook, if at all possible older children are encouraged to do this on their own
Children are settled down at the table to have breakfast and a glass of milk together.
After breakfast, each child is cleaned up. Older children wash their own hands and face, while younger children are assisted. At this point younger children have their diapers checked and changed. After each child goes through the cleaning process they are able to join the other children and free play until all children are ready and I’ve had a chance to wash bibs, sanitize table and high chairs and clean up the kitchen for the next meal.
We then headed out to the yard for the outdoor inspection today. Spent the majority of our morning out back doing that. And then once I got back in side we did the calendar/Circle time
I then gather all the children around the calendar poster. We say good morning to each other and I ask all the girls to tell each other about their evenings/weekends. Each older child takes a turn, while the younger ones listen or play quietly in the background. We then go through the month, year, season, count up to what date it is, go through all the days of the week, weather is noted, we also go through a color and letter of the day at this time. Through each of these subjects the kids are picking the label we talked about and putting it up on the board. The color and number was;
Green and 10
After this we have library book corner. Every week I get a bunch of books from the library usually on a particular subject such as dancing or sharing out for the week. The kids get a chance to go through all the books pick one for reading at that time and also pick out the book we’ll read just before nap time. Books we read today are;
Only one book today as our date was thrown off a little and we read this just before snack and nap time. Share Big Bear Share
Once it is 10:30 we start getting ready for snack and nap time. Everybody gets their face and hands cleaned and settled at the table. Water and snacks are served. After everybody has eaten all the kids go through the cleaning process again. Older children wash their own hands and face, while younger children are assisted. At this point younger children have their diapers checked and changed. After each child goes through the cleaning process they are able to join the other children and free play until all children are ready and I’ve had a chance to wash bibs, sanitize table and high chairs and clean up the kitchen for the next meal.
We then get ready for nap time. I set out the books, Play-Doh or coloring station for older kids. The younger ones are set up with blocks and Lego. I get all the kids set with what they’d like to do then I start getting the playroom ready nap time. Setting up all playpens and sleeping bags for nap time. All the little ones get a diaper check and settled into their playpens with their blankies soothers and special toys. After little ones are set. The big kids sit on the couch and I read them one last book, that they picked out in the morning, before they take a turn going to the washroom and settle into their sleeping bags. The kids then sleep anywhere from 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours. Today we slept from;
12:00-2:45- with a number of the kids very tired and some of them seem to be fighting a cold I let them sleep in a little more than usual.
While the kids are sleeping I clean up the daycare space. Have my own lunch. Reply to emails and text messages from parents and Interior Health. Work on daycare paperwork. I check on kids every 20 to 30 minutes. I prep lunch and set the table for the kids for when they wake up. I do the daily log and post photos for parents at this time too. Usually I start hearing the first of the kids wake just as I finish up.
Each child’s hands are washed and then they are settled at the table. After lunch, each child is cleaned up. Older children wash their own hands and face, while younger children are assisted. At this point younger children have their diapers checked and changed. After each child goes through the cleaning process they are able to join the other children and free play until all children are ready and I’ve had a chance to wash bibs, sanitize table and high chairs and clean up the kitchen for the next meal.
After lunch I try to remember to put anything that the children need for pickup in their bags and we;
Given the kids temperament today I think we’ll stay indoors this afternoon. There’s still a large part of the natural elements learning box to go through. And if they are feeling better, will try starting on our fall projects.
Just after 4 o’clock we get ready for pickup. We clean up, pick up and put everything away. each child is cleaned up. Older children wash their own hands and face, while younger children are assisted. At this point younger children have their diapers checked and changed. After each child goes through the cleaning process they are able to join the other children and free play.
This is when parents start to arrive if any issues have come up or supplies is needed I will tell parents then or text them during pick-up.
Meals provided are typically homemade, often fresh from the garden if it included any kind of tomato sauce. Today they had;
Breakfast:
Yogurt and granola with apple slices
Snack:
Slice of ham, crackers, old cheddar cheese and blackberries
Lunch:
Chicken sandwiches on whole wheat bread with carrot and celery sticks