Here is what our typical day looks like:
- Wake-Up Time
- Diaper change, new sippy with milk, play for a little while
- Breakfast
- Fine-Motor Activity
- Examples: turning book pages, knob puzzles, building with blocks, nesting cups (Tupperware), and putting items into a basket
- Play Break/Run errands (if I have any)
- Nap Time
- Wake-Up Time
- Snack and play
- Speech and Language Activity
- Examples: naming body parts, ABC's with letter sounds, Spanish, animal sounds, singing, sign language, and simple instructions (bring me . . .)
- Play Break
- Lunch Time
- Gross Motor Activity
- Examples: walking, crawling, rolling a ball, tug-o-war, swimming
- Play Break/Snack/Errands (if I have any)
- Social/Emotional Activity
- Examples: waving "hi" and "bye", playing and sharing with others, peek-a-boo, hugs and kisses
- Nap Time
- Wake up Time
- Cognitive Activity
- Examples: Asking simple questions (where is your ..., reading, music, shapes, puzzles, ABCs and 123's, matching game
- Play Break
- Dinner
- Bath Time/Get ready for bed
- Play (depends on what time it is)
- Bedtime story
- Family prayer time
- Song, Bible story, Prayer "Dear Jesus, thank you for ...)
- Bedtime
So, with the Lord's help, some advice from a few friends, and the wonderful world wide web, Cooper's daily schedule was born. :) I honestly can say that he goes to bed much better with a routine, as well as, being purposefully stimulated throughout the day. I should mention that the activities sometimes only last 5 minutes and that they are not always in that order, but my goal is to work on each of the 5 different areas of development everyday.
God taught me so much in my job as a Special Education Paraprofessional that I use everyday with my son. I really feel like He used that year to prepare me and to start teaching me how to be a godly mother. He taught me how to use positive reinforcement, praise (instead of "no" and "stop" to everything), patience in difficult situations, and activities in the different areas of development.
I do not claim to be perfect - I am far from it! My schedule isn't perfect - we work at it everyday. I just wanted to share these amazing lessons that I am learning with you in the hope they will encourage you in your parenting journey, just as I have been encouraged. If any of you have advice as to how to tweak my schedule once baby #2 arrive, I am all ears! I am excited for the new lessons in the coming months.
Thanks again for all of your support, love and prayers! It means the world to us! We love you!
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Love how intentional you are with your schedule. I have been doing this as well, it is harder with different ages, but you learn to go with the flow. We don't watch much TV around here anymore either. I try to keep them busy, and they really like to be in the kitchen cooking. You'll have fun doing that with Cooper too!
ReplyDeleteI have been reading a book called Give Them Grace. It is all about parenting and relating everything back to Jesus and what He did for us. It is eye opening, and I think you should read it. It puts discipline in a different perspective, but one I think kids can understand. You are such a wonderful mommy!
Fine motor, gross motor, social/emotional, cognitive- what is the fifth area? Spiritual? I love how concrete that makes things. While the only schedule I can seem to hit is keeping sleep and meal times at the same time each day, I do try to fit in lots of educational and developmental experiences each day as well. Love this post! Would love to hear more about it at our next play date! xoxo
ReplyDeleteThe fifth area is speech/language I think. I looked it up on the internet after reading an article about child development. I am a schedule person; if I don't have it written down, it doesn't get done, so it is more for me than anything else. Especially with my pregnancy brain! I am very excited about our play date! :)
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