Quality daily schedules for infants…
- Provide a safe and secure foundation for exploration
- Balance active and passive activities
- Include free play and guided play
- Are guided by each child’s individual needs
- Include basic care routines as opportunities for attachment and learning that are consistent with the home setting
- Include opportunities for bonding, free exploration, and many language experiences
- Include smooth transitions
A developmentally appropriate Infant schedule has a balance of active and passive activities, free play and guided play such as music, stories, creative and motor experiences. Scheduling for infants should be guided by each child’s individual needs. This means that each child in an infant classroom will be on different schedules. Attention must be given to individual routine care including diapering, feeding and napping needs. Times and routines should be consistent with the home setting as much as possible. Conversations with the family about an infant’s routine and schedule should occur daily.
Attention should be given to meeting each child’s developmental needs. Daily schedules for infants should include many opportunities for the infant to bond with caregivers, to freely explore the world around them, and to engage in many language experiences. Routine care, like diapering, is the perfect time for one-to-one engagement with the infant. Use this time to talk about sensory stimulation (tickle toes), name body parts (belly, face fingers), or talk about warm or cold water, etc. Transitions between all activities should take the time necessary to make infants feel secure and comfortable. When daily schedules are designed to meet the routine and developmental needs of each infant, instead of using a one-sized-fits-all approach, a safe and secure home base is established which allows each child the freedom to begin to venture out to explore the world.
The following link provides additional information on scheduling for infants. infant_schedule[1].pdf