Scheduling and Curriculum Planning

Components of Early Childhood Schedule

Activity time- Largest block(s) of the time in the

early childhood program day during which children can self-select from a variety of activities.

- 45 min. to 2 hours

Components of Early Childhood Schedule

Large group time- Also called circle, story or group time- All the teachers and children join

together in a common activity.

Small group activities- 5 to 6 children work with one teacher

for a short period- 10 min to 15 min

Components of Early Childhood Schedule

Outdoor activities- Providing each child’s individual

needs- Guiding children’s behavior- Providing a variety of experiences- Encouraging exploration- 45 minutes

Components of Early Childhood Schedule

Cleanup-10 to 15 min.-participate in putting the classroom back

into order.

Meals- Sharing food provides a unique opportunity

for socialization- 15 to 20 min.(snacks); 20 to 30 min (lunch)

Components of Early Childhood Schedule

Nap or rest- Children need to rest

Guidelines for Program Scheduling

Alternating Active and Quiet times-it is important to balance times when

children are active and when they are quiet

Balancing Child initiated and teacher initiated activities

-to allow children enough time to make decisions and exercise their growing autonomy

Guidelines for Program Scheduling

Activity level of the children

Developmental level of the children

-the age of the children will have an impact on the schedule because older children have longer attention spans and younger children may require more time for some routines.

Guidelines for Program Scheduling

Group size- Creative scheduling can provide an

effective way of working with large groups of children.

Arrival of the children

Seasonal considerations

Flexibility of the schedule

Young children need the security of a predictable schedule, but schedule should never be rigid.