Activities and trips
Daily schedule for baby groups
At Kids and Carrots we follow a daily rhythm. In our baby group, there is a deviation from this rhythm for the younger children. We work from an individual and child-oriented approach, the sleeping and drinking rhythms of the babies are followed on the basis of individual needs and the rhythm of home. There are a number of activities that take place in groups and we feel it is important that we follow these at the same time every day. This provides a consistent structure that the children can rely on and which allows them to feel safe and secure. The children who are awake at that time take part in these activities. The daily recurring activities at the baby groups are: eating fruit, reading books or singing songs, having a hot lunch, activity e.g. crafts or a music lesson, snack moment e.g. spelt waffle or cracker.
Daily schedule for pre-school and pre-school plus groups
Unlike the baby groups, Kids and Carrots uses a fixed daily rhythm for all toddler groups, which provides structure and clarity for children. The children know where they stand and can therefore develop optimally in a quiet, safe and familiar environment. The daily rhythm also offers the opportunity to alternate free play with specific activities. We also believe it is important that the children enjoy their meals together at the table in a homely atmosphere.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 07.30-09.30 | Entry of children Free play |
| 09.30-10.15 | Eating fruit and drinking tea Possibly reading books or singing songs |
| 10.15-11.30 | Activity / Outdoor games / Workshop / Outing |
| 11.30-12.30 | Warm lunch |
| 12.30-15.00 | Afternoon nap Children who have stopped sleeping, are going to bed later or are awake earlier do a quiet activity in the group or have the opportunity to rest for a while |
| 15.00-15.30 | Eating a biscuit Read books or sing songs |
| 15.30-16.30 | Activity / Outdoor games / Workshop / Outing |
| 16.30-18.30 | Free play Pick-up time |
This schedule is indicative but not authoritative. The pedagogical staff members take into account individual needs, group needs, wishes and preferences of parents and the course of the day when filling in the daily programme.
Development plan
We work with a development plan, which describes plans for various topics that concern the children. Various activities are undertaken and, where necessary, certain materials or spatial adjustments are chosen.
The development plan for the baby groups focuses on offering activities that stimulate the senses optimally. Babies react to feeling, light and sound by moving. This process is called sensomotor development. The senses (senso) and motor skills (motor) are inextricably linked. Sensory-motor development forms the basis for overall development and plays an important role in children’s emotional development, how they learn and acquire knowledge and how their social and mental development proceeds. Around the 14th month, toddlers work hard on their fine motor skills and are often able to place or tuck things in a specific way. All the activities in the development plan for the baby groups are based on the way babies and toddlers develop and the stimulation they need.
The development plan for the toddler groups is based on eight themes and the four seasons. In addition to spring, summer, autumn and winter, activities are organised on the basis of, for example, ‘around the world’, ‘animals’ and ‘vehicles and traffic’. The activities are divided into several sub-themes each week, such as art and crafts, fantasy play, nature experience, sports and movement, and experiential learning. The activities are very diverse and stimulate and awaken all areas of development. For children aged 3 and up, a separate development plan has been developed to prepare them for primary school in a playful manner. Besides the theme-related activities, numbers, letters, art, culture and the English language are also introduced. Besides yoga, music, visual arts, dance and gymnastics, a monthly lesson in mindfulness is offered.
Trips
The Kids and Carrots childcare centres all have a very spacious garden, where various activities are organised on a daily basis. Regular trips are made with children from 2 years old to the shop, the children’s farm, the library and city parks.
Several times a year, various other outings are organised, such as a visit to the fire brigade, the beach, the theatre or Madurodam, for example. We have various multiple prams in which the children can be transported safely.
