Daily Routine

Each day at Earthstar Play School ebbs and flows, with periods of uninterrupted, meaningful indoor and outdoor play, full group snacks and meals, circle times with song and movement, and daily rest time. Routine and ritual create a supportive structure that helps children to feel safe and secure. We make time to celebrate and show gratitude for the changing seasons, weather, and natural phenomena that we experience, as well as birthdays and special days in the lives of each child. Each day is full of wonder, possibility, gratitude, thoughtfulness, and joy!

Our daily rhythm provides opportunities for children to develop their individuality, body awareness, and social skills while playing, creating art, and helping out with everyday activities. Children have ample time to experiment with materials, develop connections with other children and adults, and delve into interests and curiosities.

We offer half-day and full-day options. The half-day program runs from 8:00 am - 12: 30 pm. The full-day program runs from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm.

8:00 Welcome and Indoor Play

This is a time for children to ease into the day, exploring the room for new offerings and old favorites, participate in art activities that engage creativity and fine motor skills, develop their imaginations in the blocks, trains, pretend play, and kitchen areas, or start the day quietly with puzzles or stories. Having a consistent morning playtime helps children with the possible stress of separation and being away from home. In warmer weather, we also start many days outdoors in our play yard.

9:30 Circle Time

Circle time is a moment for all the children in attendance to come together as a group, either for a game, a story, a song, or a movement activity. We have two circle times a day, which we keep shorter than 15 minutes each so that children can feel successful at sitting and focusing together for this time.

9:40 Snack

We provide daily healthy and organic snacks for the children including veggies and hummus, cereal, yogurt and fruit, avocado toast, and more. Each day, the snack will be listed for parents to see. We take into account the dietary restrictions of each child.

10:15 Outdoor Play (weather permitting)

We spend at least an hour outside when weather permits. Outdoors, children are able to run, skip, jump, and enjoy other big movements. They also have the opportunity to take care of our plants, create nature-inspired art, go on the swings, climb our play structure, and play in our mud kitchen. We have a fully fenced-in play area outside.

11:30 Circle Time

After we come indoors, wash hands, and use the restroom, children come together for our second circle time of the day. This circle time serves to help children regulate their energy as they return indoors for lunch. There is often a story or a quiet game, leading each child to their lunch seat.

11:45 Lunch

Each child brings their own lunch, and we all sit together to enjoy our food.

12:30 Nap Time

As lunch concludes, half-day children are picked up by their parents at 12:30. Full-day children have a nap/rest time from 12:45-2:30. After reading stories and a song or two, it is expected that each child stay on their own mat and take a nap (or try their best to!). A teacher stays with all children to support their rest until all of them have fallen asleep.

2:30 Indoor Play and Snack

When children begin to wake up from their naps (or are woken up at 2:30) they may again play with their favorite toys and activities in our main room. At the end of the day, we share a fruit snack together, and reflect on our day. Children have the opportunity to wake up and re-welcome the day at their own pace.

3:00 Pick-up

All parents arrive by 3:00 pm for pick up. See you tomorrow!

Although the schedule may change in little ways from time to time, we try to keep it as consistent as possible so that children can come to expect the flow of their days, which is important as young children are developing a deeper understanding of how time passes, what changes, and what stays the same.

A note on restroom use and diapering: Children are welcome to attend whether or not they are potty-trained. Each potty-trained child will try using the restroom 3-4 times in the morning and once after nap time as part of our routine. In addition, children can use the restroom individually whenever they need to. Children with diapers will be checked and changed as necessary about 2-3 times in the morning, once after nap time, and as needed.