FULL-DAY PROGRAMMING

National Network for Child Care's Connections Newsletter

Sandy Davin
Director
After-School Program
Urbana School District, Urbana, Illinois

Copyright/Access Information


As you look forward through your date book, the holidays loom in front of your eyes. It's not all of the festivities. It's not all of the hubbub. It's what to do with school-agers all day long (sometimes for several days in a row) that causes the swell of fear in your stomach. Full-day programming for school-age children doesn't have to be worrisome if you remember three basic programming points.

PROVIDE BALANCE

No one enjoys a rigid, unbending schedule. As you plan your day's schedule, be sure to balance structured and unstructured time. Having unstructured, or free time, helps school-age children learn how to guide their own behavior. On the other hand, kids can get bored if they have too much free time.

Try to start and end the day with free time. Free time in the morning avoids having to rush through instructions for late-comers. Likewise, free time at the end of the day means children won't have to leave in the middle of an exciting project. Also be sure to break up the day with some unstructured time. Even adults in the "working world" look forward to lunch and break times. Kids need to relax too.

OFFER VARIETY

The next important ingredient in successful full-day programming is variety. The goal is to have a healthy mix of activities that contains something of interest to each child. Include active and quiet activities, indoor and outdoor time. Also have variety in the content of activities. For example, you might offer arts & crafts, physical games, nature activities, or music and drama. It will take a variety to please everyone!

ALLOW CHOICE

The key element to your plan is to allow for choice. It is essential for successful full-day programming. School-agers need and want to have a voice (or choice) in their lives. Offer options for the children to choose from. Be respectful of their right to choose, even if that means they choose not to participate. This can avoid some of the behavior problems that arise from forced participation or over-stimulation (too much of a good thing isn't fun either!).

Below is just one example of a full-day program schedule that uses an option format. In addition to the activities listed, children always have the "option" to play chess or pool (in pairs) or go to the "Quiet Area" to read a book or magazine, listen to tapes, draw or color, or just to relax.

So, look forward to those full-day programs and take advantage of the opportunity to really get to know the school-agers you work with.

SAMPLE FULL-DAY PROGRAM

7:30 - 8:45 Free Time/Breakfast

8:45 - 9:00 Meeting to discuss the day

9:00 - 10:00 First Options:
Playground (Kickball)
Game Room (Note clips & magnets)
Library (Story time)

10:00 - 11:00 Second Options:
Game Room (Blackwash pictures)
Library (Movie)
Gym (Prisoner ball)

11:00 - 12:00 Free Time/Lunch

12:00 - 12:15 Field Trip Prep

12:15 - 2:15 Field Trip Options:(At Homer Lake)
New Games
Trail Hike

2:15 - 3:00 Free Time/Snack

3:00 - 4:00 Third Options:
Library (Silly songs)
Game Room (Clay play)
Gym (Relay races)

4:00 - 5:00 Fourth Options:
Gym (Scooter hockey)
Library (Movie)
Game Room (Friendship bracelets)

5:00 - 5:45 Free Time