Hey, hey, parents! Your little ones are growing up so fast, huh? Kindergarten is where the real deal begins. They’ll learn tons and have loads of fun with other kiddos, but hold up! The schedule must be on point, or chaos will ensue. Don’t worry; we got you covered!
In this article, we’ll break down the kindergarten schedule and discuss the daily preschool schedule that kindergartens generally follow, and why it’s crucial to keep up with it. We have also highlighted the importance of the kindergarten timetable that parents must be aware of. So, let’s dive in and get your munchkin’s day sorted
Importance Of A Kindergarten Schedule
Below we have covered some points on the importance of the pre k schedule. After reading these points, parents will be able to understand why it is important for kids to have a kindergarten routine in school.
- A proper schedule can be helpful for a child to feel safe and secure, so they can anticipate changes in routine.
- It may help children understand what is expected of them and when it is expected.
- A routine can help them to become more engaged and attentive and can possibly increase their capacity to gain more knowledge of new lessons.
- A schedule can help develop self-control in children when they know they must wait for certain activities.
Important Factors To Consider While Planning a Kindergarten Schedule
Now that we understand the importance of a kindergarten schedule, let’s quickly look at some factors we must consider while planning a nursery timetable for the little one.
- Decide whether you want to have a half-day or full-day kindergarten schedule.
- Make sure it is easy for your child to comprehend.
- Balance it in such a way that children have a chance to work on open-ended activities that allow for creative thought.
- Each activity should be given adequate time, including some transition time as well.
- Think and include some daily activities you wish your child to practice.
- The schedule should be flexible in case there is a special event or for activities to continue, if the child is interested and not ready to move on to the next activity.
- Ensure that you explain the schedule to the children so that they know what to expect next.
- Once you figure out the schedule, make sure you create some sort of visual schedule somewhere for the kids to reference and for you to refer as well.
- List all of the daily “non-negotiable” times, for example, lunchtime, that you cannot avoid.
- Plan activities in such a way that they are built in harmony with each other.
- Make sure to plan the ending of the day in such a manner that it is flexible.
- A schedule should never be set in stone. Notice behaviour changes in your child and detect patterns. Tweak the schedule if required.
Remember that your child may take some time to get used to the schedule, and it is possible that they may not be able to fully embrace the concept of the kindergarten schedule and prefer continuing certain activities rather than trying something new. So, be patient and follow your child’s lead and allow activities to continue when they are very interested or want to extend learning in a different direction. They will certainly come around.
Sample of Full-Day Kindergarten Schedule
Let’s take a look at the sample preschool schedule that is commonly followed by schools. You can use this one to make a personalised schedule for your child.
1. Arrival & Morning Routine (8:00 am – 9:00 am)
Utilise this hour in the morning to get the kids all ready for their day and kickstart their learning adventure. Children then arrive at school and are all set to have a productive day ahead.
2. Morning Prayer & Calendar Time (9:00 am – 9:45 am)
Children, along with teachers, recite a morning prayer and greet their friends. After this, the teacher shares any announcements for the day and goes over the daily schedule, letting children know what special activities they have ahead of them. A teacher can sometimes also write the schedule on a board. It helps children to have some kind of visual representation to go refer to for each part of the day.
The teacher also talks about the day and date, and also if it’s a special day, like children’s day, teacher’s day, etc., highlighting the a date in the calendar and time in the schedule for the same.
3. Phonemic/Phonics Lesson (9:45 am – 10:15 am)
As the kids become attentive and ready to learn, phonemic/phonic lessons can be gradually introduced to children, if not already covered. A teacher can also incorporate visual aids, like an anchor chart or images, for this. This makes the learning process a fun and engaging for children.
4. Free Play (10:15 am – 10:45 am)
After a little warm-up lesson, kids have a little free play time. Here they do whatever they want, like drawing or playing with toys. This is done in teachers presence.
5. Transition & Poem
A teacher uses transition songs/poems to reinforce embracing learning and sitting in the study area. Children recite and revise the poems they have previously learned or are introduced to new poems/rhymes songs.
6. Snack Break (11:15 am – 11:30 am)
Time for the little minds to take a break and eat something. It’s not a lunch break, but a small mini break where kids can have small healthy snacks and also relax.
7. Read Aloud (11:30 am – 12:00 pm)
A teacher reads stories aloud to kids. This gives the children a chance to work on their listening skills and this eventually increases their attention span and concentration power as well.
8. Writing & Sight Words (12:00 pm – 12:30 pm)
Here children are encouraged to engage in some independent creative activities, like writing letters. A teacher can also introduce or revise some sight words with kids during this time.
9. Lunch (12:30 pm – 1:00 pm)
Time to take a break so that kids can have lunch. Kids are taught to sit comfortably and have their meal, while trying to have their lunch independently and sitting for the meal’s duration.
10. Math Lesson (1:00 pm -1:20 pm)
Time to teach kids some early maths concepts, like counting, name of basic shapes, etc.. This helps them think, visualise and try things on their own)
11. Specials (1:20 pm – 2:00 pm)
Here children are encouraged to focus on special activities like art, music, or dance. This helps them unwind, let loose and explore some movement or flow of creative juices.
12. Science Or Social Science (2:00 pm – 2:30 pm)
Children are taught something related to science, like float and sink, or current affairs to keep them updated about what’s happening around them. This helps broaden their horizons, not think but still be introduced to new things.
13. Dismissal (2:30 pm – 3:00 pm)
Children gather their books and get ready to go home on a happy note. A good phased exit, gives them time to collect their belongings, meet their mates, and prepare to go home.
The kindergarten schedule is such a totally different world compared to other grades. With little children ones, it becomes a lot trickier. We hope the information we covered above about the kindergarten schedule will help you learn about kindergarten schedule. If you have any more questions about this topic, drop them in the comments below.
Also Read:
Guide on Phonological Awareness for Preschoolers
Ways to Teach Preschoolers About Helping Others
Teaching Your Preschooler About Stranger Danger
