How Many Sprinkler Days A Week?

[LostMyMarbles]

To original poster, what do you want to do? 1,2,5,3? It is all up to you. Do what is best for you and you littles. Have fun.

[CityGarden]

My dd attended two different preschools and neither offered wading pools, swimming or sprinkler time. The first did not do any sort of water play, they did tons of play including painting and play dough daily, social skills, circle time, etc. and we loved it. It was only 9am - 12pm so the limited hours I feel were well spent.

We moved from there to a full day center and the hours offered were 7:30am - 5:30pm Monday - Friday (my dd attended about 9am - 3:30pm M/W/F) they were connected to a university and did not offer any sort of water play that required bathing suits. They did at times have a huge water / sand table set up.... and I think all year they had water for the kids to pump available for the kids to take to the sand and build with etc. If children were so wet they needed to change their clothes they did so but I did not feel my dd missed out on sprinkler time in preschool/daycare. They did a ton with the kids including having an outdoor science lab, walking field trips and they had a beautiful shaded yard for the kids to do lots of playing in.

For my own program I would love to get this water table:

http://www.communityplaythings.com/products/outdoor/w445-outlast-cascade-play-center

I am still debating if I want to take the children to swim lessons (or free swim) in the summer. That would be the only water play outside of the water table. I do however believe in lots of outside time and am lucky to have a well shaded park so close. I am not anti-sprinklers, pools, etc. there is just so much I can fill the day with and also my property does not lend itself to those activities easily.

Most of the field trips we go on involve water...log ride at Knotts, LB Aquarium has water play,Water Fountains in SanPedro., Kayaking at mothers beach.. So we just live in our bathing suits. Summertime at my house is the highlight of the year! Kids go back to school bragging about everything we do.

I too am in Southern California as well and your program sounds lovely. My launch was delayed to this January however I plan to offer tons of walking field trips as a major benefit to my program. I personally think it will be good for me and the kids..... so it is something I want to offer. I also feel my limited yard size and location naturally lend themselves to that sort of program. Someday we might go further like the Aquarium, etc. but for me that is quite a drive 30 mins or so without traffic and I don't want to drive dcks but walking field trips for sure!

Thank you for the response Michelle I have some great parents and while they will let me take them sometimes they wouldnt like it everyday I dont think but I was thinking if I took a field trip once every 2 months and then take a weekly walking trip to our library and another weekly walking trip to our park that might be good. We do walk to get my mail everyday and that is about 2 blocks away. Very exciting huh? LOL but when your 2 I guess it is cause they seem to love it! Thank you for the inspiration Itold my husband just yesterday, the kids are so bored right now, h*ll I bore myself! We gatta do something with these kids. So I cant wait to start taking walking field trips and things. We live in a wonderful small town with only 900 people but there are some things to do here just gatta get movin thanks

I would go stir crazy being home all day everyday but I too would not want a field trip each day. I am thinking to start with doing the park daily and at first maybe a field trip 1-2 times per month. In summer that might shift depending on what my clients desire and are willing to pay for.

Walking Field Trips I have planned:

Park Daily (weather permitting)

Pet Store (we have two in walking distance)

Bristol Farms (offers a tour for children)

Fire Station

Police Station

Post Office

Pumpkin Patch

Farmer's Market*

Indoor Playground*

Gymnastic Studio*

Community Pool*

* these either have additional cost that the parents would be responsible for or they are a maybe for me for logistically reasons.

I suppose the bottom line is I feel you can offer a great deal to children without sprinkler time but for those who offer it great. Each program is different that is the beauty of running our own businesses.

[CityGarden]

The beauty of owning our own business, is that we can decide what works for our group. Some love to paint, others hate the mess. Some love play dough, other had that mess. Water sports, again, your preference. Freezing winter months and outdoor play, if that's your thing ENJOY.

We all get to decide what works in our program. It is our choice. You want to sever nuggets ever day, knock your self out.

There are NO rules or regulations , in my area anyway, that dictate what activities you NEED to do. It is all up to the owners disgression.

So, if you want to do water stuff, have fun, if you want to teach science, enjoy, if you want to sit under a tree and read, knock yourself out.

Personally, I feel that if your parents and children are happy, you are doing a GREAT JOB!

:hug:

I 100% agree with this!!!

[Unregistered]

I agree, do what works for you! If you're doing things that drive you nuts you won't be happy, and you won't last long!

I love water play. We do water play every day in the summer. I'm in a northern state. I don't do sprinklers. Kids never seem to like them that much.

I have the water table out every day in the summer. We do giant bubbles in buckets of bubble water and paint the deck and sidewalk with pails of water and all sorts of other messy & water type play.

I never have out a wading pool. We also have water in the sand kitchen. I don't dress kids in swimsuits. they need to be able to do it them selves or they need to come with their suits on. I will help them out of their suit.

[Unregistered]

Oh, lots of times the kids are just in their shorts and shirts when playing at the water table. They don't get super wet. Young kids might, but clothes dry!