Good Afternoon!

Summer time is a time for family vacations, the occasional sleeping in, and adventure. These things can occur throughout the rest of the year but summer is special .

In just a few short weeks, we’ll start back up the ‘school year’ again and our peers who have been travelling or away for an extended period of time are coming back to Wee Friends! Our schedule and predictability will be a little more in tact. I wanted to dedicate a blog to routines and schedules and how they fit into a child’s day.

Majority of children require structure, routines, and predictability at home and at school. While our daily schedule is looser in general here at Wee Friends, children know what to expect for the most part. For instance, children know once we clean up breakfast, they’re welcome to open the art table. When it’s a nice day and we’re able to stay outside for a longer period in the morning, once we hear those bells down the road at noon, we know it’s time for lunch. These small periods of predictability offer children a safe space and comfortability in those moments.

Schedules happen at home whether it’s a bedtime routine or certain steps you take in the morning before heading out the door. If even one step is missed of forgotten, some children can break down. Even as adults, once our routine is broken, it can be challenging to get back on track.

Even though predictability and routines are important, there’s something to be said for spontaneity too . I’ve attached an article about how we can work together to create transitions and routines for our Wee Friends that are beneficial to each child and their development. Routines are very individualized to each child because at the end of the day, each child is completely and beautifully different!

https://childmind.org/article/how-can-we-help-kids-with-transitions/

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All areas of the house were appealing to our friends today as they occupied every part of the environment!

When we went outside this morning, Miss Melinda asked five friends to help her water our flowers in the backyard. We have a lot of children who love offering their assistance!

Our garden is on the brink of offering us wonderful veggies! We’ve tried a few yellow peppers but today, we got to try the kale and rhubarb. Friends loved the kale! It offers a yummy, healthy outside snack.

Breakfast– Kix and PPC blueberries.

Lunch– Hummus on whole wheat bread, PPC watermelon, and PPC broccoli/fresh carrots.

PM snack– Whole grain bagels with cream cheese and block cheese.

Wee Sprout– PPC broccoli and fresh carrots.

Have a fantastic night!

-Mindy

Link to pictures: WF 7/17