The Childcare Day

As a childcare provider, the very best thing you can do to help children learn is to focus on them and talk to them about everything they and you are doing while you are together.  You will find that once they know all about themselves and their own world, that they will become curious and want to learn more. 

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• Studies show that the more words children hear every day, the better they are prepared to go to Kindergarten.  This begins with babies!  I would add also that this needs to be meaningful talk when you and the child are engaged in doing, or looking at  something together.  It obviously cannot be random words that someone says around the children!  The words must be meaningful to what you and the child are doing together.

• How do you talk to children when you are in a childcare center, in one room for most of the day? First of all you talk to the children when you feed them, diaper them, dress them, or play with them.  When you go outside, you talk to them about what they are seeing around them.  Talk about the flowers, plant some together so they learn that you water them to help them grow.  Go on a stroller ride and talk to them about the cars and staying safe.  Talk to them about the different flowers and trees you are seeing. ​

• Read.  Read.  Read.  Have books in different areas of the room that pertain to what happens in that area.  In the house area, let the children hear you read about how Ernie (from Sesame Street) knows how to dress himself or that Big Bird’s mommy bakes birdseed cakes.  In the stuffed animal area, let the children hear you read about how a little doggie was lost and tried to find his Mommy.  Don’t just read one time a day during circle time.  Try to plan on reading many, many books throughout the day.  Yes, “many, many” books.  Try for at least 5-10 books a day!  You can read some books several times a day.  That counts!   ​

• Re-think your reading. Are you making time and/or arranging your room so you create opportunities to read to the children many times throughout the day?  Are you changing at least half of the books you have out every two weeks?  Are the books you have out on a variety of topics?  If the children don’t seem familiar with the topics, are you creating hands-on experiences to help them understand? ​

• Re-train your staff.  Are your staff members trained in how to talk with children about what they are doing?  Do they know the importance of doing this?  Are they following through?  Do they include the children in cleaning up and putting the toys where they belong? Do they talk about it with the children? ​

• Re-think your room arrangement.  Does everything in the room have a place that is clearly marked with a photo?  Are “like” things grouped together, i.e., all the transportation toys in one area and the blocks in another, but nearby for combined play?  Put books about vehicles and building things near this area.  Do you have dress-up clothes, pots and pans, dishes and silverware, babies & diapers and doll bed all available to rotate in and out of the house area?  Plan to add seasonal items to  the house area as appropriate, i.e., folded paper and markers to make Mothers Day cards.  You could put books about Mommies in the house area during this time.  Around Halloween, put costumes instead of the regular dress-up clothes, as well as Halloween and dress-up clothing books in the area. ​

Childcare providers are with children 10-12 hours a day in some cases. Take the ideas listed on this page and brainstorm with your co-workers and supervisor about how and when you can make them work for you and the children in your care.  Be proud.  Childcare providers have a very, very important job!