All 2 year olds this fall...

[Cozy_Kids_Childcare]

Ok I have never had the group all the same age. They all pretty much turned 2 between March an May. I need some ideas on circle time an craft stuff. I wanna start this crew off on the right foot instead of winging it.

[Rockgirl]

I was in pretty much that same boat last fall! I will be honest--it was tough some days, but we eventually got into a good groove. I kept activities very simple. Instead of a formal circle time, I'd just get a stack of books, sit on the floor, and start reading. They'd come over and listen most times. Art was very simple and open-ended.

Free play was our biggest struggle. They did a lot of grabbing toys from others and running off with them. I ended up spreading throw rugs throughout the room with a toy or activity on each one...one kid per rug. We'd rotate every 10 min or so. After they got the hang of staying busy with an activity, I started having 3 activities around the room, each for 2 kids, same thing--rotate after a little while. After they could handle this, we were able to do a real free play time each morning.

We used songs a lot for transition times--it helped a lot.

Good luck!

[Cozy_Kids_Childcare]

I was in pretty much that same boat last fall! I will be honest--it was tough some days, but we eventually got into a good groove. I kept activities very simple. Instead of a formal circle time, I'd just get a stack of books, sit on the floor, and start reading. They'd come over and listen most times. Art was very simple and open-ended.

Free play was our biggest struggle. They did a lot of grabbing toys from others and running off with them. I ended up spreading throw rugs throughout the room with a toy or activity on each one...one kid per rug. We'd rotate every 10 min or so. After they got the hang of staying busy with an activity, I started having 3 activities around the room, each for 2 kids, same thing--rotate after a little while. After they could handle this, we were able to do a real free play time each morning.

We used songs a lot for transition times--it helped a lot.

Good luck!

Oh man never thought of the small throw rug idea. I'm gonna have 2 girls and 2 boys. I share a space with my livingroom so I thought about setting up centers for them to play in
Building section
Doll/kitchen/laundry section
Cars and train section

Then the usual potato head, music and little people bin

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

how fun! I am starting fall with 3 infants, 2 yo and two 3 yr olds! This could be an interesting year!

so when you say all 2 yr olds- how many can you have?

Sensory bins are huge with my 2 yr old but you have to watch them with it if there is anything small that they shouldn't put in their mouths! But, playdoh, oats etc are all good.

paints, fingerpaints are loved by all here. Just be sure to put big shirts on them and be ready with wet wash clothes!

I would be tempted to get a bunch of $1 dish pans from dollar tree and put one toy or set of toys in them. Giving one to each child and having extras for when they are done. They put back in the bin what was there and you trade off. That way the toys are "picked up" and they learn how to do it so when you do transition to toys on the shelf they would know to put back in the bucket what came out.

and of course- outside outside outside... bubbles, sidewalk chalk, running and playing... fun!

I am a little concerned that our outdoor time will be limited with the babies this fall. I want to make an "outside classroom" in my carport for this fall so that I can have my older ones in the yard playing and the little ones in the carport area. Still working this one out. That is my after I get my own kids moved out project.

[Cozy_Kids_Childcare]

how fun! I am starting fall with 3 infants, 2 yo and two 3 yr olds! This could be an interesting year!

so when you say all 2 yr olds- how many can you have?

Sensory bins are huge with my 2 yr old but you have to watch them with it if there is anything small that they shouldn't put in their mouths! But, playdoh, oats etc are all good.

paints, fingerpaints are loved by all here. Just be sure to put big shirts on them and be ready with wet wash clothes!

I would be tempted to get a bunch of $1 dish pans from dollar tree and put one toy or set of toys in them. Giving one to each child and having extras for when they are done. They put back in the bin what was there and you trade off. That way the toys are "picked up" and they learn how to do it so when you do transition to toys on the shelf they would know to put back in the bucket what came out.

and of course- outside outside outside... bubbles, sidewalk chalk, running and playing... fun!

I am a little concerned that our outdoor time will be limited with the babies this fall. I want to make an "outside classroom" in my carport for this fall so that I can have my older ones in the yard playing and the little ones in the carport area. Still working this one out. That is my after I get my own kids moved out project.

I'm going to have 4 which we are allowed 5 unlicensed until June 1, 2016 then it goes down to 4 unrelated children. I'm only unlicensed till we move because my house is small and I wouldn't want more than 5 anyway and that is all I would be licensed for due to the size of area.

Finally got our privacy fence completed so outside time is gonna be a majority of the day thing in the fall.