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Planned Activities & Daily Schedules

Purpose

To ensure that each classroom or group implements a written, developmentally appropriate daily activity plan that supports children’s emotional, social, intellectual, and physical growth while remaining compliant with childcare licensing regulations.

Scope

This SOP applies to all classrooms, age groups, teaching staff, and program administrators within the child care facility.

Responsibility

  • Director / Assistant Director: Oversight, compliance monitoring, and staff training

  • Lead Teachers: Creation, posting, and implementation of daily plans

  • Teaching Staff: Execution of activities and adherence to schedules

Procedure

Step 1: Develop a Written Activity Plan

  1. Each classroom or group must maintain a written daily activity plan.

  2. The plan must:

    • Be age-appropriate and meet the developmental needs of the children served.

    • Include structured and unstructured activities.

    • Include alternate indoor activities for inclement weather.

  3. Plans must reflect developmental goals in emotional, social, intellectual, and physical domains.

Step 2: Post the Activity Plan

  1. Post the written plan in an easily visible location within the classroom.

  2. The location must be accessible to parents and legal guardians for review.

  3. Plans must be updated as needed to reflect classroom routines and activities.

Step 3: Ensure Developmentally Appropriate Programming

The daily schedule must include activities that:

A. Promote:

  • Emotional development

  • Social interaction

  • Intellectual growth

  • Physical development

B. Prohibit inappropriate confinement:

  • Children must not be placed in confining devices (e.g., car seats) as a substitute for:

    • Active play

    • Supervision

    • Interaction

    • Discipline

C. Regulate electronic media:

  • No electronic media for children under 2 years of age.

  • For children 2 years and older:

    • Educational or physical activity use only

    • Limited to 1–2 hours per day maximum

Step 4: Balance Active and Quiet Play

  1. Daily schedules must include:

    • Active play (indoor and outdoor)

    • Quiet play (reading, rest, sensory activities)

  2. Outdoor play must occur at least twice daily, weather permitting.

Step 5: Include Routine Care Activities

  1. Daily schedules must clearly identify:

    • Meals

    • Snacks

    • Nap/rest times

  2. Timing must align with:

    • Child age

    • Length of time children are in care

Step 6: Infant-Specific Requirements (Birth–12 Months)

  1. Provide adequate time and space for:

    • Tummy time

    • Crawling

    • Rolling

    • Sitting and movement exploration

  2. Use of infant equipment (swings, bouncers, seats):

    • Limited to 15–30 minutes per interval

    • No more than two times per day per infant

  3. Infants must receive daily outdoor time, weather permitting.

Step 7: Maintain Flexible Schedules and Smooth Transitions

  1. Daily schedules must:

    • Allow for flexibility based on children’s needs

    • Include transition periods between activities

  2. Staff must use:

    • Verbal cues

    • Songs

    • Visual schedules

    • Consistent routines
      to help children move smoothly between activities.

Step 8: Communicate Daily Activities with Families

  1. Providers are encouraged to:

    • Inform parents and guardians of daily activities

    • Use daily reports, apps, notes, or verbal communication

  2. Communication should reflect:

    • Activities completed

    • Child engagement

    • Routine consistency

Step 9: Promote Consistency and Continuity of Care

  1. The program must:

    • Assign infants and toddlers to a limited number of consistent caregivers

    • Follow predictable daily routines

  2. Staff must communicate consistently with families to support:

    • Emotional security

    • Trust

    • Stable relationships

Step 10: Accommodate Children with Special Needs

  1. The program must make reasonable accommodations to:

    • Environment

    • Planned activities

    • Daily schedules

  2. Accommodations must allow children with special needs to:

    • Participate meaningfully

    • Access activities safely and appropriately

Compliance & Monitoring

  • Activity plans are reviewed during:

    • Licensing inspections

    • Internal audits

    • Classroom observations

  • Non-compliance may result in corrective action or retraining.

Documentation

  • Daily Activity Plans

  • Classroom Schedules

  • Parent Communication Records