Title: Create a schedule of activities, routines, and transitions.
Course: Early Childhood, Education, and Services I (19153-I) > Section: Exploring Curricula Responsive to Children’s Needs

Creation of a schedule should include

- establishing activities, routines, and transitions
- explaining the importance of a daily schedule and routines
- ensuring a visible schedule for children is posted for their understanding of the day’s routine
- ensuring developmentally appropriate schedules to reflect the program’s objectives, length, and size; the facility; and the children’s ages and interests
- explaining the importance of the use of transition techniques to move smoothly from one activity to another (e.g., gross-motor stretching activity, finger plays, music, visual and auditory cues).

It is important to create a resource file containing many different activities, routines, and transitions.

Process/Skill Questions:

Thinking

- What are the benefits of using routines and transitions for young children?
- What criteria should be used to evaluate the effectiveness of activities, routines, and transitions?
- What factors might influence choices regarding scheduling?
- How can schedules be adapted to cope with unexpected situations?
- What factors should be considered when developing a schedule or routine of activities?
- How can childcare professionals develop and use lesson plans effectively?
- What are some examples of effective transition-time activities?
- How can one keep accurate and meaningful records on children? Why are they helpful? What procedures should be in place for children’s records?
- Why is record keeping important? How are children’s records used in the early childhood environment?

Communication

- How can children be prompted to move from one activity or routine to another?
- How can the instructional merit of schedules be communicated to parents and the community?

Leadership

- How might routines and transitions reinforce the problem-solving/decision-making skills of children?
- What leadership skills are needed to establish activities, routines, and transitions?

Management

- What resources are needed to schedule activities, routines, and transitions?
- What operational factors may limit the schedule?
- How can technology be used to assist in scheduling?