Children thrive on routine. Children feel more confident and secure when their daily activities are predictable and familiar. When infants and toddlers are part of familiar activities and routines, they develop relationships with the people they interact with and gain a sense of belonging and self-confidence. As older toddlers and young children grow, they can follow routines, demonstrate emerging independence, and adjust to change more easily. A purposeful child care daily schedule provides ample time for the most important age-appropriate experiences for children. Schedules and routines in the group care setting, and at home, help children: Feel in control of their environment. Feel safe, secure, and comfortable. Know what is happening now and what comes next. Know how to do an activity or task. Engage in learning. What is the difference between a schedule and a routine? A schedule represents the big picture and includes main activities that happen across the day. It labels each part of the day and sets a beginning and end time for each part. Routines are the steps needed to complete each part of the schedule. A routine is what happens during each part of the day. A consistent daily schedule and step-by-step routines: Provide structure Schedules provide a structure for the children's day so that they know what to expect. A basic schedule that allows for some flexibility helps children to monitor their behavior and develop a sense of time and what comes next. Give children predictability Children who have not yet learned to tell time will measure their days according to activities and events. A predictable schedule gives children a sense of control and safety. Facilitate productive transitions Transitions from one activity to another are really the most difficult times of the day for children. With predictable schedules and cues that one activity is about to end and another to begin, transitions are smoother and cause less anxiety. It, also, allows for transitions that can be fun learning experiences. Prevent challenging behavior Many challenging behaviors come from anxiety and frustration. When children feel anxious or unsafe, they often act out with aggression or tears. When children know what to expect, they are more likely to exhibit self-control and positive behaviors. Build trust When children see that the caregiver provides a schedule that is the same everyday, they learn to build trust in the caregiver. Consistency builds trust and trust is the foundation of strong relationships. Parts of the Preschool Day The daily schedule should contain a number of experiences that develop a well-rounded education for children. The daily schedule is critical to proving a happy classroom. The following are some parts of the day to consider when developing a daily schedule. The ages of the group and individual children should also be considered when developing a daily schedule. Arrival Morning Meeting Learning center time Group time Outside time Snack time am and pm Lunch Nap Departure time

Feeling good means feeling that you are a valuable, lovable, capable person who is important just because you are you. When children feel good about who they are, they are able to value, love, and respect other people. A child who has internalized this feeling will be able to function independently, participate fully in cooperative and caring relationships, express opinions and listen to others, meet new challenges with a feeling of confidence. As teachers and caregivers, our responsibility is to help children feel good about themselves. The following is a list of things that teachers and caregivers can do on a daily basis to help children feel good about themselves. Acknowledge every child’s presence with a smile, eye contact, a touch, a wave. At the beginning of the day, and throughout the day, it is important to acknowledge each child through eye contact, a warm welcoming smile and encouragement. Use the child’s name when talking to the child. Using a child’s name helps the child feel more connected to the caregiver or teacher as an individual. It helps the child feel seen, and usually makes children more likely to respond positively to whatever is being communicated. Listen to children. Their pain, hunger, and feelings are as real as those of adults. Caregivers need to acknowledge children's feelings and help children name their feelings. Children that have the vocabulary to name their feelings are less likely to resort to crying or becoming emotional. Active movement is a normal, necessary part of child development. Children need to move in order to grow and develop. Caregivers should plan indoor and outdoor movement time for children. Required sitting time should be kept to a minimum. A good rule of thumb is to allow 3-4 minutes of sitting per year of age of the child. A four year old would only be expected to sit for a maximum of 12 to 16 minutes. Let children do child-like things. Play, explore, experiment, pretend outrageous things, and imitate routine things, lay around aimlessly, stare at an ant, chase butterflies, and dig holes to China. Children’s play has value and caregivers should encourage children's play. Allow children to select activities. Children have individual needs and interests. Encouraging children to select activities they are excited about helps develop in them a belief that their ideas are important and gives them a sense of success for their abilities. These are just a few suggestions to help teachers and caregivers implement a Feeling Good Program.

Group Time provides an opportunity for each child to participate in a group, sharing and demonstrating their ideas, as well as trying out and imitating the ideas of others. At group time, a child can find out that there are some things that are really fun to do with other people, and that, as part of a group, they can sometimes be a leader or a follower. It is a chance to provide “key experiences” for children in a social setting and to observe children as they participate in that setting, each in their own way. The adult group leader observes children participating in a group and can learn how individual children perceive different concepts such as loud and soft, same and different, fast and slow, near and far, colors, shapes, numbers, letters, etc., depending on the activities provided. Group time is not only a time for interaction, both child to child and adult group leader to child, but, also, a time for active and passive experiences, a visual time, a musical time, and a verbal time. Planning is crucial to implementing a fun, enjoyable and productive group time. The adult group leader must be prepared in advance. The following are some tips for group time: Plan group times at strategic times of the day. Finding the best times of the day for group time will aid in the cohesiveness and orderliness of the program. Develop a consistent schedule. Group time should generally occur at the same point in the sequence of the day's events so the children can adjust to the routine and anticipate it. Have a well-defined area of the room designed for group time. This area does not need to be used exclusively for group time, but there should be enough physical space so that children are not crowded together and everyone is included. Have a balance of activities. Balance the planned activities between active and passive activities for the children. Young children cannot be expected to sit still for long periods of time. Balance the activities between listening and participating activities for the children. Provide alternative activities for children that don’t want to participate. Some children are not developmentally ready for group time yet, so be ready to provide non-disruptive alternative activities that the child can do independently during group time. Be flexible. If needed, adjust your plans depending on the mood of the group. Be ready to switch from a book to an active action game or song, or a movement activity if the group becomes restless. Group times should be one of the most enjoyable activities for both children and adult group leaders alike. Make them a pleasurable time for everyone!

Knowing what sets good preschool programs apart from great ones is a game changer for anyone looking to venture into the business or increase enrollment. Below are just some of the factors that make a high-quality preschool program. Carefully planned daily activities Preschool programs are meant to prepare children for kindergarten and more advanced learning. The skills children gain in an early learning setting will set the foundation for all their future learning and how they interact with their peers and teachers. The best preschool programs operate on carefully planned daily activities that meet the overall needs of the children. Sticking to a routine will help your children know what to expect and help them make progress towards their learning goals. Happy children and staff One of the major keys to a high-quality preschool program is to ensure that both children and staff are happy. To do this, programs should focus on creating positive working environments for teachers so they can adequately serve their role in the children's development. Programs with stimulating activities that promote learning and exploration will keep children engaged and excited to learn. Low child-to-teacher ratio Properly staffed daycares perform better than understaffed ones. A low child-to-teacher ratio is one great way to ensure that a preschool program has adequate teaching staff. While ratios vary based on program type and children’s ages, a low child-to-adult ratio is typically recommended to promote things like: Tailored education according to the children’s strengths and abilities One-on-one attention Personalized feedback Improved learning outcomes Clean and safe environment A clean and safe environment is another sign of a high-quality childcare program. Teachers and children are able to concentrate better when the classroom is tidy and set up in a way that encourages learning. A high-quality preschool classroom has child-appropriate bookshelves, tables, and chairs as well as access to materials and equipment that support appropriate developmental milestones. Clear lines of communication Families that are actively involved in their child’s early education will lead to better learning outcomes. Programs that are committed to keeping their families engaged promote healthy child growth and development. Frequent and clear communication through things like daily reports or monthly newsletters help to strengthen the home-to-school connection and keep families informed of their child’s progress.

As the new year kicks off, many decide on new year's resolutions. Some of those are health and exercise related, while others are aimed at forming healthy habits. For preschool children, it is important to exercise both mind and body as well as to develop positive healthy habits and routines. A healthy diet, a good night’s sleep, and plenty of exercise aren’t just good for your child’s physical health—they're essential to mental health too. Teach your kids to develop healthy habits that will keep their bodies and their minds in good shape. The following are some ideas to help young children develop strong minds and healthy bodies. Establish Healthy Bedtime Habits Pick and stick to a set bedtime. Make sure it allows your child to get the full amount of sleep they need. Establish a nightly routine that includes three or four soothing activities, such as taking a bath, changing into pajamas, and reading stories. Try to keep the bedtime ritual the same every night, so your child can anticipate each activity. Play Together A child who is healthy both physically and mentally needs to play. Truthfully, adults need play, too! Take time to put aside work, chores, and other obligations and focus solely on your child. Doing so shows your child that they are worth your precious minutes. While playing with your child, you’ll not only strengthen your relationship and bond, but you’ll probably find yourself having fun too. Seeing a parent let go of worries can assure kids that they can do that as well. Physical Activity Physical activity is important for everyone, but it is critical for a growing child. Preschoolers need lots of opportunities for activity, and when they have the chance to blow off some steam, they tend to have more self-control and are better able to learn and actively engage in calmer activities. Minimizing screen time is one way to encourage more active play. Goals: Get 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Get outside everyday, when possible. Nutrition During the preschool years, children’s bodies and brains are developing rapidly and they are laying the foundation for their future growth, development, and even brain pathways! The food toddlers eat now is literally building their body and brain, and will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Making good, healthy food choices sets children up for success in many areas, including academics, self-control, and emotional well-being. Make a new recipe with your child that includes a fruit or veggie your child likes. It’s a great way to bond and encourage cooking habits in the home. Try a new fruit or vegetable and ask your child to pick some to try. Try new healthy snacks. Choose water over sugary drinks. Provide a variety of healthy foods for breakfast. A healthy breakfast can include foods that aren’t traditional breakfast foods. Goals: Include fruits and vegetables with each meal. Eat less sugar. Practice making healthy food choices as a family. Choose water over sugary drinks. Help your child form lifelong healthy habits in the new year!

Transitioning from one activity to another in the early childhood classroom can be challenging, but with a little planning and flexibility, you can minimize the frustrations that can accompany transitions for both yourself and the children in your care. Why are transitions so hard for some children? Being able to independently transition from one activity to the next is a key aspect of getting children ready to start kindergarten. However, many young children struggle stopping one activity and moving to another. This can be for a variety of reasons. For children (and adults too!), it can be extremely frustrating having to leave something they are thoroughly engrossed in, especially if they are enjoying what they are doing or feeling that they have nearly completed the activity. Think about your own life. When you are in the middle of a task, you may not appreciate being interrupted or pulled away from that task, particularly if it is an unexpected interruption. For other children, transitions can lead to confusion or produce worried feelings. This usually stems from a lack of structure or routine. While some children may be flexible and able to adapt to interruptions in their routine, others will have difficulty understanding why they are being asked to do something else, view the situation as unfair, or else, feel unsure of what they should do next. Children respond to uncertainty in different ways. When transitions are unexpected or not clearly communicated, this confusion can lead to frustrated outbursts, increased anxiety, and impact how the child goes through the rest of their day. What can you do to make transitions easier? While transitions can be challenging, there are a number of things that you can do to make moving from one activity to another smoother and minimize disruptions and outbursts. Here are some things to try in your own program: Set up a schedule. This is so important. Children tend to handle expected transitions very differently than unexpected ones. Establish a routine and refer to the schedule throughout the day. It can be helpful to start the day with some sort of morning meeting where you will go over what you have planned. Providing reminders about what comes next in the day can be helpful as well. Post a visual picture schedule for the children so they can look at it throughout the day. Stick to the schedule, but build in transition times. Following your schedule will provide children with a good idea of what to expect and help them develop routines. However, it is okay to be flexible at times. For example, if all children are actively working on an art project and fully engaged, it would probably be a better idea to give them a couple extra minutes to finish up, instead of trying to pull everyone away from the activity. Additionally, remember that transitions take time, even when everything goes smoothly. Building that time into the schedule will allow you to stay on track and not feel rushed or flustered. Think about how long it will take to clean up or get new materials, instead of expecting one activity to start immediately after another. Provide cues that mark the time to transition. To minimize confusion and surprises in the schedule, try to incorporate both verbal and non-verbal cues that signal that it is time, or nearly time, to move to a new activity. For example, providing ten- and five-minute warnings will help make transitions go smoothly. You can, also, incorporate an instrument or bell to signal that it is time for the next activity. Follow this up with a verbal reminder as well (“do we remember what the bell means?”). Another effective strategy is to incorporate some sort of transition song, like the clean-up song. Again, when children hear this song, they will have a better idea of what is expected of them and they will likely join in with the song and be more willing to help prepare for the next activity. Provide clear and consistent instructions. Another important tip for managing transition time is to give your students clear and consistent instructions. This means letting them know what they need to do and how they need to do it. For example, you might say, “It’s time to clean up the blocks and get ready for circle time. Please put all the blocks away and line up at the door.” Giving clear and consistent instructions can help to reduce confusion and ensure that your students are able to move smoothly from one activity to the next. Make it Fun Create a fun and engaging way to move the children from one place to another. Let children be partners in planning a fun and engaging transition activity. For example: Let’s hop like bunnies to the playground. Transition in pairs. For some children who struggle with transitions, they may enjoy moving to a new activity with a partner. This can be done proactively by planning partner activities or reactively by asking a child who does not struggle with transitions to help another child get ready. This should be framed in a way that encourages supporting friends in the classroom and not as a punishment for the child that struggles with transitions. Balance active and calm activities. You have likely seen times in your classroom where it seems like all the children are getting antsy or fidgety. Physical activity and active play are so important for multiple reasons, including helping children make transitions. Try to remember this when you develop your schedule. If there are multiple indoor, quiet activities planned try to break these up with ones that allow children to run around, get exercise, and be louder than they would in the classroom. Similarly, if you are asking children to transition to an activity like getting ready to go home, it might be a good idea to provide them with a short, relaxing activity beforehand as opposed to expecting them to go immediately from something extremely active to something focused and calm. Be positive! Remember to provide positive reinforcement when you see children transitioning to activities appropriately. Acknowledging desirable behaviours when you see them will increase their occurrence. Transitions can be tricky. But with a little preparation and flexibility, you can minimize the challenges that often accompany transitions and help prepare the children to be successful.

If you haven’t already, it’s time to start planning the end-of-year celebrations for your early childhood center! Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing. You might like to use a couple of these ideas, together or one for each age group — the options are endless. Make sure you consider your guests’ comfort and safety at these events. Do you need to provide adult sized chairs or tables? It may be worth considering hosting a number of smaller events, rather than one big one. Create a musical extravaganza: Every occasion is a time for music and singing, but this time of year really lends itself to music. Pick out a bunch of the children’s favorite songs and perform a musical for families. You can incorporate instruments and dance moves along with singing loud and proud. Perform a cherished story: Choose a favorite story, or one that children can’t get enough of, and put together a performance of the story. Educators can narrate the story and the children can act it out. Add in some dialogue for children who feel confident too! Have the children create the scenery, costumes and props. Revisit the year’s favorite activities: Get children and educators to vote on the best activities you explored throughout the past year. Base your end-of-year celebration around one or more of those exciting activities. They can be extended into your decorations, songs, stories, outfits, and even your snacks! Record a movie: Another option is to pre-record a bunch of your ideas – songs, performances, artwork progress – and edit it together into a keepsake movie for families to cherish. If you choose to host a number of smaller events, you could play the movie for everyone to enjoy. Live stream your event: We’ve all become accustomed to celebrating a variety of occasions online and can now navigate streaming platforms with ease. Grandparents, relatives and people that are unable to attend your in-person event will appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the Holiday Season with the children. Include Everyone: When working with young children, it’s important to create an understanding that all families have their own traditions, beliefs and cultures and we should treat each other with respect and dignity, regardless of where we come from or what we believe. Get families involved: Sing songs in different languages (ask families to write down the words). Dance to music from different countries (ask families for the music). Learning hello and goodbye in different languages. Cooking foods from around the world (ask families for the recipes). Getting children to dress up in their native costume. Taking photos of each family and adding them to a world map of where they originally came from. Ask families to bring in a plate of food from their cultural background (give a list of prohibited foods). Play group games from around the world. Find where each child’s name comes from and its meaning (these can be displayed). Display posters/images of children and people from different countries.

In the month of November conversations about gratitude, giving back and appreciation take center stage as parents help their children develop an attitude of gratitude. Encourage your child to develop a grateful heart that tells others what they are thankful for from their own perspective. Children that give details of what they are thankful for and why begin to understand the concepts of gratitude and being thankful for people, circumstances and things in their lives. The following ideas are intentional ways to help children of all ages grow in the area of gratitude: Signs of Thankfulness When children are around 6 to 9 months old, start teaching them signs for common words like “milk,” “food,” “more” and “all done.” Don’t forget to teach “please” and “thank you” to establish good manners before they start talking and develop gratitude. Heart of Gratitude Young children can express gratitude in your home before they are old enough to write. Decorate a hanging wooden heart with the words “thank you” in the middle. Explain that the heart would hang on the bedroom door of anyone caught doing good, as a reminder of thankfulness for their act of kindness. You will be amazed how quickly children grasp the concept. They will be thanking you and their siblings for all sorts of acts of kindness. “Thank you, Sophia, for playing blocks with me”. Or “Thank you, Alexa, for helping me pour milk on my cereal.” Reminders of Thanks When children are very young, it’s easy to remind them to say, “Thank you.” Older children may also need verbal reminders to say, “Thank you.” But, as kids grow, the expectation from others and their growing understanding of being thankful changes and matures. A verbal “thank you” may need to be followed up with a written thank you note. A Lesson in Gratitude At the beginning of the school year, when you are shopping for school supplies, buy an extra backpack and fill it with supplies for a child in need. Put in a special note and then drop it off at a local charity that is collecting back-to-school donations. Whiteboard Thanks Mount a whiteboard on the refrigerator or any convenient location around your home. This can be used as a communication board between the family members to remind each other to have a good day or to help kids show more appreciation for things that are often taken for granted. Anyone in the family can write or draw on the board and show gratitude or appreciation and encourage each other. Read books with the message of gratitude Many children's books have the theme of gratitude or thankfulness. Look for books that match your family values.

School newsletters can be of great benefit to your entire community. By providing important details, timely updates, and intriguing news, you are bringing everyone into the dialogue. How can you ensure that these crucial mails don’t get deleted? To grab their attention, start with the following excellent practices: Limit the amount of content you use. Less can be more. Concentrate on the importance of your material and focus on no more than two or three key themes. Adding excessive information to your emails will guarantee that they get archived. Keep it straightforward and to the point. Create for mobile. Since most email opens come from mobile devices, it is essential to optimize your school newsletters for them. Desktop design has suffered as a result of how frequently parents, teachers, and kids are on the move. Staying informed about changes and events in your community requires quick access to information. Pick a time to send out the newsletter. Consider the best times to send an email before choosing when to send one. The goal is to ensure that your school newsletter is reaching your readers at the appropriate time. Personalize your newsletter. Use personalisation techniques in your emails to boost interaction. For example, you can use the parent’s first name in the subject line. Make sure the content you are distributing is relevant. Rethink your goal to redefine the intended strategy and outcome if they don't seem to connect with what you have been giving them in the past.

In this webinar, Jared Hall, founder and CEO of IntelliKid Systems, introduced IntelliKid Systems’ newest product IntelliForms! IntelliKid Systems knows enrollment. With IntelliForms, the childcare industry will be able to streamline their enrollment and registration process, simplifying it with digital registration forms. Families can complete the forms online and all the information will be automatically updated in their IKS profile. Imagine the time that can be saved on manual entry, uploading the form, trying to decode the parents’ handwriting and chasing down missing information. Imagine streamlining the enrollment and registration process to make it fast, easy to use, and convenient for families and staff. It’s all possible with IntelliForms! Essential information will be captured and parents will have the ability to e-sign documents making the registration and enrollment process smoother and simpler. Many parents nowadays don’t even own printers. No need for parents to own a printer with IntelliForms as the information will automatically get returned to IKS. Instead of printing, filling out forms, or performing manual entry, the parents just complete the information and it will be saved in IKS. Do you require a registration fee for enrollment? With IntelliForms, automated payments can be taken for registration, or other fees. No more back-and-forth phone calls trying to track down payment. Parents will love the time-saving convenience and your staff will love it too! The IntelliForms product will revolutionize the way your childcare registers and enrolls families! Join the IntelliForms revolution for $75.00 per month per location. Contact jared@intelliKidsystems.com for a demo or schedule your demo here.

You can find parent boards in most early childhood classrooms. Traditionally, these boards provide information to parents about classroom activities. This board is a tool to help keep parents informed about the daily happenings in the classroom, upcoming special events or activities, and may house classroom rosters and communication sheets. The board is used in conjunction with other forms of parent communication, such as digital daily reports, digital newsletters and verbal communication. Let me begin by saying that the most important things about a parent board are… Location: The parent board needs to be placed where it can easily be seen and accessed, or your parents will easily overlook it. Keep it in a location where it is at parent’s eye level and within parent reach. Updates: If you want parents to actually look at the parent board, then you have to be committed to keeping the parent board updated with the most recent information. Useful: You have to plan ahead and put things on the board that are useful and informative to the parent like extra copies of newsletters, the menu, or field trip forms. Commitment: This may seem like an odd word choice, but if you throw up a board and title it “Parent Board” without ever thinking about it again, then parents will lose interest and not get into the habit of looking at it. You have to be committed to making the parent board a regular part of your communication strategy. Time: Take the time to remind your parents to view the parent board for the most recent updates and classroom happenings, but make sure you have taken the time to add those updates! What you might include on the parent board: A clear label identifying it as the Parent Board. Food Menu: a copy of your weekly menu outlining meal options for the week and any updates to the menu. A place for the roster to hang when the teacher is in the classroom. This will help the parents know where to consistently find the roster when the class is inside. A copy of the daily schedule. Information related to that age group (for example, in a 2 year old classroom, potty training info could be posted). The lesson plans for the class. Important Announcements. The parent board is a wonderful communication tool. This is a great way to keep parents up-to-date with current classroom happenings such as field trip forms, newsletters, pictures/documentation of students in action, or other special important announcements. Special Classroom Activities or Special Events. Newsletters. Teacher’s Bio with a photo. What we learned today. Make sure that these are dated with the current date. This can be handwritten by the teacher, but spelling, grammar and professionalism must be considered at all times. What We Learned Today will help the parents know what happens daily and give a better understanding about what the children are learning while at school. Another Helpful Tip: Be sure to keep your parent board attractive, well-organized and, most of all, eye-catching and appealing! It must be updated regularly and referenced as a place of communication in all correspondence with parents. Mention the parent board in your newsletter. Reference it in your daily digital communication with parents. Parents will be eager to reference the parent board when it is thoughtfully designed and relevant to what is happening in the classroom.

Here are a few simple ideas that can help build awareness in your community. 1. Host an Event If you are a new school in the area, you might try an event that is open to the public, no RSVP required. The goal here is to let folks see your facility and just know you are there. Event ideas might include an open house, a BBQ or an arts fair. The idea is a low-pressure way for families to see your school while spending quality time with their family. If your school has been around for a while, you may want to focus on events that build your credentials in early education. That might be a workshop on some aspect of parenting or a guest speaker on some early education topic that appeals to parents — dealing with tantrums, ideas to improve eating habits, biting etc. In all cases, be sure to have materials parents can take away, such as brochures and registration forms. Give a special gift to the children, such as playdough, flubber or a small plant. Also, you can use the events to collect emails, so that you can touch base in the future. You can use a page on a clipboard or have parents enter their own emails directly into IntelliKid Systems to save time. 2. Promote Your Business Whenever You Communicate Parents are everywhere. And so, every communication is an opportunity. Is your school name, contact details and either logo or brief description on all of your correspondence? Your email signatures should include your school logo or description, including a link to your website. 3. Engage on Social Media Another effective child care marketing tactic is to contribute to online conversations in social networks that reach parents. Social media is powerful. An absolute must-have for early learning centers is a Facebook page. At a minimum, use it to keep your community informed on your key dates and events — when your school year starts, etc. It is also an easy way to be found, should one of your clients recommend you — if they have “liked” your page, they can simply share it with others. Beyond that, social media offers a chance for you to create a brand and a voice. Communicate this through the articles you might share or like, and through how you interact on your page. For instance, it could be a professional tone, a warm and nurturing tone, or a lighthearted and cheerful tone. Your community can learn a lot about you and your school from your online presence. 4. Encourage Referrals Word-of-mouth is a powerful marketing tool for most child care services but how do you get parents to talk about you? A motivator can be a parent referral program. Offer a free week for referring families and a free registration fee for new families. Make sure that you are promoting your referral programs to all your enrolled families.