Let me take the time to discuss a day in the life of a childcare provider. I am sure if you have a child in childcare you have seen a schedule similar to this:
- Morning snack 8:30-9:30
- Diaper Change 9:30-10:00
- Circle Time 10:00-10:30
- Clean-up/Diaper Change 10:30-11:00
- Lunch Time 11:00-11:30
- Naptime 11:00-2:00
- Diaper Change 2:00-2:30
- Snack Time 2:30-3:00
- Circle Time 3:00-3:30
- Diaper Change 3:30-4:00
- Story time 4:30-5:00
- Free Play/Clean-up last Diaper Change 5:00-6:00
No class under three or four will ever follow this schedule. This schedule is one of those DHR requirements. The center is required to have them posted. There are some childcare chains who give the teachers a pre-printed schedule to post. The teacher has no input in the schedule and they may not change any of the format.
It also works as an advertisement for the director. When a director, who actually have no idea what goes on in the classrooms, give potential parents a walk thru they can appear to have some kind of knowledge about classroom activities. Director, Assistant Director and/or any office staff have no idea what goes on in the classroom daily.
Your child's actual schedule is more like snack, diaper, free play, diaper, lunch, nap, diaper, snack, free play, diaper, pick-up time. Times may vary!
So what's your child during diapering and cleaning? They are getting hit, bite and/or a toy taken from them or they are hitting, biting and/or taking a toy from someone. Ideally there maybe another staff member in the room yet, with the ratio standard and anyone lower than the director does really count, the one teacher rule usually stands.
Monday's are the worst. If you think Monday's in the office are busy add three busy toddlers, two loose bowels, two sleepy babies times I Miss Mommy crying along with trying to smile while a parent who is inquiring about a bib missing from Friday; you will have effectively describe a day in the life of ... and that's just the first two hours.
All childcare providers agree T.G.M.O. (Thank God Monday's Over).
The Unknown Teacher
