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How to balance caring for and teaching children with daycare chores
As a daycare owner, you are tasked with not only caring for children, but also some aspects of education. In addition, you have to tend to chores and other types of child care tasks so that the daycare is clean and safe for the children. So how do you balance it all and still make sure that kids are learning and thriving?
A daycare owner asks: “How does everyone else manage their daycare day between the actual CARE and learning when you’re a single child care provider? Sometimes I spend so much time caring and cleaning up, that I feel I’m depriving them of “learning” time. Thoughts?” We asked the daycare owners on the Own A Daycare Facebook page how they Daycare owners responded to provide their experiences and suggestions. Here are some of the most helpful responses. Thanks to all who respond and shared their expertise!
I’m from “old school” and also believe that there are many teachable moments in our everyday routines! When you have a wide range of ages it can sometimes be difficult to undergo certain projects, but yes, try to find some balance. I always make everyday tasks a learning opportunity. Pick two days a week to incorporate a fun craft and such. Just relax and have fun, because too many children are missing that these days!!! Remember, playing is learning, too!
I know how you feel! It is so difficult to “make time to learn” I have struggled with that for 3 years, and now that my husband is home he can watch the little ones so that I can spend one on one time with the older ones. I try to get morning nap with babies and so that is our “learning time”. I can put them down for nap upstairs and we have school room and playroom downstairs. This way babies are in earshot of hubby and I can supervise little ones. Before that I would put babies in a room downstairs and then we had to be a bit quiet for them to sleep well. I wouldn’t beat yourself up for not getting more learning time in. You can teach them with everything you do. Talk about how many legs an octopus has when they are playing with it, or the color of toys, how many wheels the car has. Use your imagination and you will find little ways to “teach” them throughout the day.
I believe the kids learn best from the everyday activities of life. I do not have a set curriculum. I make sure to incorporate the necessary things into the random tasks of playtime and going about our day.
I feel the same but I’m beginning to understand it is a part of the daycare. You can’t have a cluttered up mess because if the state comes you can get in trouble or you will spend your whole evening cleaning. It is what it is. I try to have the children be involved with chores and other things to keep them busy and stimulated and it’s good for them. (ALOT OF THEM DONT DO CHORES AT HOME AND FIND IT FUN) Its finding the flow that works for you and the kids and stick with it.
I have a daily routine I follow the kids know what will happen throughout the day. They love there circle time, activity time, story, and movement fun
I give one hour for activities and one hour for crafts and read. As long as I do that I don’t feel so bad. One hour in the morning and one in the afternoon.
At first I tried but found it hard too also. I clean up right way after each meal I feel less anxiety that way. I think children are asked to start learning & grow up so fast anymore. Just letting them be little and learn to socialize with other kiddos through play etc. is the most important thing they can learn. Our whole lives are based on socialization if you think about it. I do craft projects with them and read books etc. just cut down on the trying to teach them like they were in preschool.
Outside time is very important it lets them get fresh air and also to run and cut loose a bit, after being inside for hours. We go out even in the winter they love playing in the snow, even if it’s just for 15 or 20 minutes. They love it.
I understand your frustration. Over the years (23 yrs.!), I have cared for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years old at the same time. It is hard to sit and have a learning time when an infant or toddler starts crying or interrupting. You lose the attention of the older children you are trying teach. My solution has to break the learning times into small 15-20 minute time periods. There is no rule that says you have to have a continuous (1 hour) learning time. So I break it up throughout the day. We will do calendar and talk a little bit about our subject for the day first thing in the morning. (10 min). Morning snack time I read 2 books about the subject. (10 min.) At lunch we will watch a few videos about our subject (15 min). After lunch we will spend about 20-30 min doing a craft. And we have LOTS of learning thru free play in between. Hope this helps!
Learning occurs not only during circle time or class time, but as you expose children through daily living experiences too. What becomes meaningful learning through teachable moments.
I try to promote that we are a learning home daycare. But sometimes the learning is just everyday stuff, like eating at a table with other. That learning does not just have to be a “project” that we made. Today we, my Husband and I, have 6 children in care. The oldest is a young 2yr. SO, 6 in diapers, which takes a lot of time just to change to get ready to go outside. But these days, I really think teaching Social Skills is what we really need to do. With so many issues of bulling, and other social problems that are happening, Teaching the basic etiquette skills is so needed now than ever.
I have a preschool program and a room we call the learning room filled with all kinds of fun. It is very rewarding and really makes me feel good about how I help them be ready for kindergarten. It is hard with different ages in my care but I try to structure my time for preschool to start at 9 or at least by 10 and give it my undivided attention for as long as they are interested. I have had a helper so lunch time was being covered by her otherwise I prepare ahead of time. I had bought many preschool packages over the years so now I just pull from these activities. Even thirty minutes is better than nothing. I have spent time in the evening laying out and organizing the lessons. I also get help from parents with preschool items like tissues and Clorox wipes and paint and paper etc. since I offer this in my daycare. Puzzles flash cards counting sorting singing story telling anything to teach them to sit listen and be ready to learn. Kids have no idea how long you teach as long as you make the effort to set aside time at least two-three times a week and call it preschool time. I think parents want the kids to be taught so a lot resort to preschool programs but that is my favorite age so I fight for the right and privilege to teach too in my home.
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