What do children do all day in a family child care program?
Planning for a small group of children in family child care presents unique challenges for two reasons. The first challenge stems from planning for a mixed-age group. It’s not unusual for a provider to be caring for an infant, a toddler, two preschoolers, and three school-age children, for example. A living room or family room area will need to have suitable toys and play areas for these various groups to use simultaneously. The second challenge stems from the need to use space flexibly. For example, a kitchen table may serve as an arts and crafts area in the morning, a place for eating at lunchtime, and a place for older children to play board games or do homework after school hours. While a family child care setting is less formal than a child care center setting, children in both kinds of programs need to have their day structured in a way that attends to their routine needs and to their need for a mix of activities. Family child care homes offer quiet and active activities, for exa
