Activitites
A wide range of activities are offered daily at all branches.
The activities programs focus on the different age categories and development areas of young children. The activities on offer focus on a balanced development of young children and the conscious stimulation of the development areas.
Every day, activities are offered ranging from simple and brief to more extensive. These activities are prepared and implemented by the teaching staff. The branch manager supports the teaching staff and ensures there is a balanced program. In order to achieve a balanced and development-oriented program, the day care centers work with an activity matrix.
The Small Society activities program regularly gives attention to working on themed activities. Themes can be set for an entire branch and for a specific period.
In offering activities, established specialist external partners are used on a regular basis (e.g. for music, sports, nature education, dance or art).
If you would like more information about the range of activities on offer at the Small Society branches, please contact your branch manager.
Preschool playgroups VVE program
At the preschool playgroup venues, a specific activities program focuses on preparing children for primary school (VVE: preschool and early school education).
Daily timetable
Daily routine and daytime program
Every day follows a fixed pattern as far as possible, as this helps the children to feel secure. A day at our day care center looks pretty much like this for children from around 1 year old. The youngest have their own sleeping, waking and eating patterns. We seek to match what they are used to at home.
07.30 – 09.30 | parents drop off their children; there is coffee or tea for the parents and time for a chat with the group leaders or with other parents |
09.30 – 10.00 | sitting at the table together to eat fruit and have something to drink |
10.00 – 10.15 | nappy change and hand washing |
10.15 – 11.15 | free play or an activity |
11.15 – 11.30 | clearing up and hand washing |
11.30 – 12.15 | sitting at the table together for lunch |
12.15 – 13.00 | nappy change, undressing |
13.00 – 15.00 | naptime |
15.00 – 15.15 | diaper change, getting dressed |
15.30 – 16.00 | sitting at the table together to eat yoghurt with something (e.g. cracker, rice cracker) |
16.00 – 17.00 | free play or an activity |
17.00 – 18.30 | free play, check the nappies again, something to eat and drink for the children who stay longer, parents pick up their children and discuss the day with the teaching staff |
Group allocation
Both horizontal and vertical groups operate in our day care centres. Each group has its own character. The government also sets requirements for the maximum number of children and leaders per (type of) group.
Horizontal groups: baby group (0–2-year-olds) and a toddler group (2–4-year-olds).
In a vertical group, children from 0 to 4-year-olds are put together. This configuration is the most similar to a large family.
A baby group can accommodate up to a maximum of nine children between 0 and 2 years of age, a toddler group can accommodate up to a maximum of 16 children and a vertical group can accommodate up to 12 children.
In all cases, two fully-qualified teaching staff must be present.
If teaching staff are on their own in a group, there can only be up to a maximum of four babies under the age of one, or five babies older than one, six children in a vertical group and up to eight tots in a toddlers group.
If the attendance and make-up of the group allows, then (on occasion) the number of staff may be deviated from or groups may be merged. This occurs especially during drop-off and pick-up times and during the holiday period if the attendance is low.
