For some reason my daughter has always had the need to know “whats, next” or “then what.” She is definitely a child that lives by and needs a schedule. She needs a structured day and she thrives in that type of environment. If her day is not structured she becomes frustrated and usually ends up driving everyone in the house crazy.
When we decided that she would be home on Monday, Wednesday, and every other Friday during the summer I knew that I had to create some kind of schedule for her or she and I would both go bonkers. We are on week two of our schedule and so far it it going well.
Our Day:
- 6:30- she wakes up. YUCK. Nothing we do gets her to sleep longer than 6:30. She has only slept past 6:30 a handful of times her entire life.
- 7-7:30: Breakfast
- 7:30-8:00: Free Play (she hates this time and is always prodding me to get on with the day)
- 8:00-8:30: Mommy’s helper with a fast cleaning of the living room and dining room.
- 8:30-9:30: Outside play time and gardening. If its too wet to play outside but not raining we take a walk or ride bikes on the driveway.
- 9:30-10:00: Game time
- 10:00-10:15: Snack Time
- 10:15-11:00: Art/Play Dough (painting, crafts, drawing, etc..)
- 11:00-11:10: Clean up time
- 11:10-12:00: Educational TV (Super Why, Sesame Street)
- 12:00-12:30: Lunch
- 12:30- 2:00(ish) Nap
- 2:00-2:15: Snack
- 2:15-2:45: Learning Time (flash cards- numbers , letters, sight words)
- 2:45-4:00: Outside Play (depending on weather). If the weather is bad she plays indoors.
- 4:00-5:00: Mommies Helper (laundry, dinner prep)
After five we go off of the time schedule because David is done with work and can play, or help with Madilyn.
Sometimes we make adjustments to the schedule in order to go to appointments or run errands. Some people might think this kind of schedule is to regimented but it works for Madilyn. I guess I would rather be regimented than to be the parent that does nothing but set their children in front of the television for hours at a time. I know to many parents who don’t interact with their children and it is rather sad.
In a few weeks we will change the schedule because she is enrolled in a week long morning dance class. She is really looking forward to dance class.
Photo: Madilyn in the pirate hat she made during art time. She is scowling like a pirate and pretending her hand is a hook.
Tags: day in the life, working mom