There are strategies and skills families can teach to prepare children for school, a lifetime of learning, and reduce the stress of childcare. Making schedules and lists are two of them. For more ideas see the book "Learning Through the Seasons" available in area museums, stores, on the web at www.grandparentsteachtoo.org, and pod casts at wnmufm.org.
Make a schedule
To organize a day, families can discuss a schedule of what needs to be accomplished no matter who is the caregiver-parents or grandparents on week days or weekends. Otherwise, spending one on one time can easily be lost in the shuffle.
Step back and analyze a day. What activities and skills do you want to develop with your children? What is going well? What needs to be better?
A family's schedule may include dress up, eat breakfast, brush teeth, do some age appropriate chores together, play an active game, do a quiet activity (reading or math game, put together a puzzle, do an art/ music, imaginative play project), eat a nutritious snack, do something active, watch a short educational show, lunch, go on an outing (morning or afternoon), eat a snack, read, rest, another active time, quiet time, and clean up. As the day proceeds, children may cross off items.
What are some options for each part of the schedule? What active and quiet activities are available in your community? Active ones could be a park visit, walk, bus ride, or indoor modified sport like soccer with a beach ball. Community outings may be the library, YMCA, or museum. Make a list of quiet options and materials in your home like board games, art supplies, dress up box, and approved educational kid shows, program times, and maximum viewing time.
The family can have a short meeting to explain and make a schedule. Some parts like brushing teeth will always be on the schedule. Other activities can change daily after a short meeting. Children may choose, suggest, or take turns choosing activities and crossing them off when completed.
After explaining its use, adults may wish to set the stove timer for a 30-minute "Time In" playing one on one with no distractions throughout the day. This might be on the floor with racecars, playing outside, or a quiet activity like reading. When the timer goes off, children may choose an activity they can do by themselves within your sight. This is your time to get something done or take a break for a short time. Creating a schedule and using some variation of a timer helps set up expectations for everyone. Crossing items off when completed gives a feeling of accomplishment.