Sorry another planning question!

[son77]

I look after a 11 month old baby that has just started crawling & I am struggling how to do planning. What I have just started to do is very simple & I would be greatful if you girls could read through & see if I'm on the right track.

Examples

Mon- activity planned, balloons. Playing with them, throwing them, encouraging child to crawl to them etc.

Tues- Treasure Basket

Wed- Visit to out local park to look at the bird sanctuary

Thurs- Shape sorter, talk about shapes, colours, help to put shapes into the correct holes

Fri- Playing in the garden. Exploring the grass, leaves etc. Feeling them with our hands & talking about how they feel.

Then I have a section that if the activity isn't carried out to put why & what we did instead.

Then also every day I write on another sheet the activity we did, what areas it covers (b23 at mo) & how to extend etc.

I do have a long term planning sheet but I find this even harder for a baby to fit into so I haven't really bothered following that yet for this child.

Is this ok?

Any comments very welcome.

Thanks for reading through. xx

[sarahnev707]

That all looks lovely!

Only thing I'd do different is to say -

eg. observed xxx looking out of window and tracking birds with his eyes/ pointing at them and babbling - plan visit to bird sanctuary / pets at home - get specific outing permission and plan day

or obs xxx etc - make some bird food to encourage more to visit garden

or xxx really enjoyed playing peepo with balloons at toddlers - plan to blow up some more this week - wonder if he would like a balloon fest on the grass (max 8" ribbon - advice from Rospa!)

It's all about following children's interests and risk assessments nowadays so even though you know why you're doing it, the reader (and xxx's parents) don't without a prompt

But then I might be wrong!! Just what I'd do

Sarahx

[son77]

Thanks for that Sarah.
Can I ask, how often do you do observations?

[sarahnev707]

hmmm how often do i do obs?? Well, in truth as often as I remember.... which might be a few one day cos it's quiet and I notice things happening and write them down to plan for the next day, then none the next, cos quite frankly nothing of any note happened

I have a weekly obs sheet for each child and I just add to the learning and development sections as i go through the week - I have made a form in Word, split it into 6 areas of learning and make notes under each one as relevant - so M today was playing outside and enjoyed the water tray (CD), didn't like the wasps (PD - running away? nah PSED - likes and dislikes) What does that tell me for tomorrow? She might like water again, or maybe sand with some water in the tray, or should I try the paintbrushes on the wall with the water?? For the wasps, ask parents what they say / do so I can follow their guidance - they might shoo them away, panic themselves, go in (which was what she was trying to do) etc

Think that makes sense... will re-read before posting!

Sarahx

PS Never apologise for asking! It's how we all learned
PPS Angel's stuff really is brill! Use it and adapt for the agegroup of child you are caring for.....

[mel]

I think your ideas sound fab. Keep going - a little tweaking here and there is how we all become better minders.

Mel x

[rach30]

I mind an 8 mnth old baby and have has trouble planning ! this has given me some great ideas tho . I love the weekly observation sheet idea. thanks.