Your Infant's Day at Our Child Care Center

Schedules for the young infants must fit their patterns. They eat, sleep and play on demand or per their own individual schedules. When they play there are plenty of opportunities to get down on the floor for hands on exploration of a variety of toys and materials. They can play on their own, beside other infants or with an adult. The daily schedule must be designed for the individual child’s developmental stage.  In the infant room each child has an individual care plan created by the parents in conjunction with the primary caregivers. As your infant grows and matures, their schedule will also evolve and grow. As they approach the “waddler” stage of development, usually around 12-14 months; your child will begin to adapt to a schedule similar to the toddler program. They will participate in waddler group time and activities designed specifically for the waddlers. Your waddler will remain with the caregivers they have bonded with while they prepare for moving into the next stage of their development-the toddler room.

Sample Day in the Life of Your Waddler

7:30 am: You arrive at the center, check your child in at the ProCare check in station and then it's off to your child's classroom where you are greeted by their primary caregiver. You take the time to fill out your child’s daily sheet for the day and discuss any news or important information with their primary caregiver.

7:45 am: Your child chooses to build with the soft wood like blocks. He uses his imagination to create a “town” with the blocks.  Then he takes out the wooden cars and drives them through the maze of blocks. Other waddlers arrive and play next to your child with other blocks and manipulatives.

8:15 am: Next, the caregiver chooses an activity that will help continue to build language and communication skills.  Sitting with your child and other waddlers in the nursery gym, the caregiver reads and sings songs with the children.  Your waddler now joins in with the songs and finger plays.

9:00 am: Your child's caregiver notices it's time for a diaper change and that your child is beginning to get hungry.  After changing their diaper and preparing their “finger food” morning snack, the caregiver allows your child to feed himself at the snack table with the other waddlers.

9:30 am: While many of the young infants are napping it is a good time for an art project. The caregiver sits your child in a Charrie with the tray attached.  Along with their caregiver and one or two of their friends, your child uses finger-paint to create a masterpiece.

10:15 am: Your child, along with other waddlers goes outside to the play yard. With the help of the caregivers, they climb and run and jump. They are really developing their large muscles.

11:00 am: Your child and his friends return inside, wash their hands and have their diapers changed. Your child chooses to use the manipulatives including puzzles, snap blocks and link-its. They are working on eye-hand coordination, cause and effect and problem solving.

 11:30 am: After all the activity and fun of the morning, the waddlers are hungry and ready for lunch. The caregivers prepare the finger food lunch from home and your child sits in a Charrie to eat his food independently.

12:00 pm: The waddlers are full and tired. Your child will nap on his “new” cot today. The caregivers will sit with them and rub their back if necessary to help them get used to the cot.

2:30 pm: Awake and ready to go, it is time for a diaper change and a snack at the small tables.

3:00 pm: Your child and his friends return to the play yard for some fresh air and exercise.

3:45 pm: It is time to play with Play Dough. Your child sits in a Charrie and squishes, rolls, molds the Play Dough. They are developing their small muscles which will be so important in writing.

4:00 pm: Ready for more movement they are engaged by their caregiver in finger plays and movement activities using movement scarves.

4:15pm: Your child and a friend get out the puppets and entertain the young infants, making them laugh. Your child is excited to have the role of the older child now.

5:00 pm: It's time to go home soon.  You arrive to find your child's happy smile as you enter the room and are greeted by the caregiver who tells you about all the fun activities they did during the day. Don’t forget to take home your child’s daily sheet and the finger-paint masterpiece created today.

6:00 pm Diaper changes will continue as necessary. Waddlers will continue to interact with the caregivers and other children while playing with activities of their choosing.