Time keeper

September is a month of renewal in childcare. It’s a splash of excitement mixed with moments of uncertainty. That’s because the core things change.

Between creating new connections, adjusting to the group dynamics, and finding our groove there’s not much time to spare.

Speaking of time, a childcare I support has been struggling with routines & transitions. Many of the challenging behaviours happened during these moments. As we searched for roadblocks, we discovered why.

The transitions lacked fluidity. Too many micro steps and wait periods.

So, we zoomed out the morning routine and mapped it out.

By doing this, we were able to:

·      determine all the necessary blocks (e.g., free play, toilet, circle, outdoor play, lunch, etc.).

·      reflect on the flow of the sequence.

·      figure out how to get from A to Z by minimizing wait periods.

Spoiler alert, this always includes separating the groups.

A co-worker was assigned to help them navigate the new schedule.

A cool bonus, right?

The first day she shared the teaching team was doing great! They even kept the new schedule on them. They referred to it a lot and executed all the steps.

The second day she reported the same news. However, she mentioned they were fixated on the clock. They wanted to make sure they were making time.

Now this might seem like a bonus to most. Right?

However, in childcare, flexibility trumps punctuality. We want to transition within reasonable time blocks, but it can’t be our sole focus.

When our energy goes into time keeping, we lose the essence of the bigger picture. We’re preoccupied with the clock vs what’s happening in front of us.

We decided to add estimated times next to the transitions to allow for flexibility.

Because between all the responsibilities we juggle, we don’t need to add pressure to be a timekeeper.

The children are more focused on our connection, presence, security, and playfulness than anything else.

With all my love,

Alex