Curriculum

[nanglgrl]

I've been doing daycare for 10 years and have four children of my own. Throughout the years my way of teaching the daycare children was doing the same thing I did with my children...we take a walk and talk about the GREEN grass and BLUE skies etc....but most of all they played with basic toys, I read to them and we talked about EVERYTHING.

This worked out well for me as all of my children excel in school but parent's today want more. They want worksheets, art projects every week, themes...and they want these things as soon as their child can sit up. I don't mind doing a curriculum and themes, although I think it's silly that parents want it so early I think it will be exciting. I recently remodeled my basement for the daycare and it is awesome, now that I have the look I feel I need to amp up the activities.

I don't take school-agers or children under 18 months in my daycare. Currently I have 5 children who are almost two or just turned 2, one 15 month old and 3 children who attend morning preschool. Is there a pre-made curriculum kit that any of you would recommend? I've been looking at Funshine Express and Mother Goose Time.

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

I have used Mother Goose and enjoyed that it was all "done". I have also used higher reach. At this time I find them pricey for what I actually used from them. I am better to buy a couple new books every month.
Another idea that I have used for the past 2 years is www.kidssoup.com I can print some worksheets.. because yes, some kids like that format. It has a good variety of crafts, ideas, games etc. I do both kidssoup and ABC twiggles that they offer. If you look at my fb page the Dd letter crafts were theirs. It lets me do what I want and I don't feel like I am "throwing away days". I am just not structured enough for an every day program and I don't have all my kids every day.

[countrymom]

at the age of 2, I'm just trying to get them to share and not color my walls. I think it has to be on an individual thing. I have 1 child that is super smart but doesn't go to school till next year, but she loves work sheets, the other dcb goes to school this year, and well, he has alot of learning ahead of him

[jen2651]

I was wondering if anyone had ever used Carols AFfordable Curriculum. I did Funshine last year and like it but Carols seems to be a little more cost efficient...any thoughts between the two? I have never used MGT but a provider friend of mine didn't care for it... but I think it is all personal preference!

[Crazy8]

I'm actually thinking of buying one this year. when I started my daycare over 10 years ago I made my own - just came up with my own themes, found all kinds of crafts on the internet, etc. etc. I enjoyed it, but it certainly took quite a bit of time. Now with 3 school aged kids of my own I just don't have that kind of time. I am trying to find one that is for under 3's but also don't want to spend a lot of money. I know I should just spend some time creating my own again but the ease of it just coming to me in a box sounds rather appealing right now as I usually feel like I'm just barely keeping my head above water with all the things I need to do!

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

I'm actually thinking of buying one this year. when I started my daycare over 10 years ago I made my own - just came up with my own themes, found all kinds of crafts on the internet, etc. etc. I enjoyed it, but it certainly took quite a bit of time. Now with 3 school aged kids of my own I just don't have that kind of time. I am trying to find one that is for under 3's but also don't want to spend a lot of money. I know I should just spend some time creating my own again but the ease of it just coming to me in a box sounds rather appealing right now as I usually feel like I'm just barely keeping my head above water with all the things I need to do!

Mother Goose has the crafts all ready. But, it is pricey. kidssoup does a monthly theme but you have to print, cut out etc and it is not laid out daily. You would pick what you want to do.

[seebachers]

http://preschoolcurriculum.com/group.htm

This allows for you to do one or two projects a week or tailor it the way you want to. It also allows for one or two children. I paid $26 and that included shipping and they package your craft supplies into.

I have used their bigger program in the past and really liked it. I especially like that I can tailor it to two kids. The littler ones can do the songs and calendar etc while the older ones have the take home projects.

Check it out

[mom2many]

I have used Mother Goose and enjoyed that it was all "done". I have also used higher reach. At this time I find them pricey for what I actually used from them. I am better to buy a couple new books every month.
Another idea that I have used for the past 2 years is www.kidssoup.com I can print some worksheets.. because yes, some kids like that format. It has a good variety of crafts, ideas, games etc. I do both kidssoup and ABC twiggles that they offer. If you look at my fb page the Dd letter crafts were theirs. It lets me do what I want and I don't feel like I am "throwing away days". I am just not structured enough for an every day program and I don't have all my kids every day.

This is my 3rd year using kidsoup.com and I love it! It is more cost efficient for me and I can vary the activities for a variety of ages. I used the Home Preschool Program for 15 years off and on and it is much like Mother Goose. It was expensive and I wasted some materials when kids were only part time.

I also use Education.com, Making learning fun.com, allkidsnetwork.com, teachers pay teachers, enchanted learning, kidzone, DLTK, preschool rock.com, learning pages.com & first school are all great sites with lots of great ideas for crafts and worksheets!

[texascare]

I just signed up for Kidssoup(the ABC Twiggels) and have printed off so much. My kids mainley color as they are not even 2, but I do have 1 older that I use Carols Affordable Curriculum with and I plan on adding this to it as well.

[youretooloud]

I also like the twiggles kidsoup. I haven't been a member for a long time, and didn't realize they separated the two into two sites.

[GotKids]

Do you mind printing and cutting things on your own? Right now I am using http://www.kidsparkz.com/index.html It is really cheap but there are a lot of activities that are geared for the younger crowd. We do a group activity, one on one activity, and an art activity each day based off the theme. Some themes take a week or more to complete.

I have 6 two year olds and one 3 year old. They love it, the parents are loving it too. I have sent home some copies of the group activities like memory or size ordering each week. Most of my parents say they love that and keep them in their purse for using while waiting for dinner or at the dr.

It is super cheap and you really only need basic art supplies, paper, card stock and color printer.

[Oneluckymom]

I am wondering if any of you have used MGT and carols curriculum, how are they different or is one better compared to the other? I was going to order MGT but found carols curriculum about $200 cheaper. Thoughts?

[melissa ann]

I just got carol's affordable curriculum. I ordered for Sept. It came with a today's weather wheel, for parents: newsletter, songs that we will be singing this month, menus. The crafts look simple for preshool age, it does say 2-6.
Everything was well organized. Everything was sorted per child. There was a curriculum booklet. I was very happy with the kit.

[NiNi.R.]

I use Funsteps and really enjoy it!

[Oneluckymom]

I just got carol's affordable curriculum. I ordered for Sept. It came with a today's weather wheel, for parents: newsletter, songs that we will be singing this month, menus. The crafts look simple for preshool age, it does say 2-6.
Everything was well organized. Everything was sorted per child. There was a curriculum booklet. I was very happy with the kit.

How long did it take for shipping? Also, do they have any assesments that go along with the kit or that you can order?