Clip Schedule

E is a kid who likes structure.  I try and provide it without being too scheduled.  Our sleeping and eating times are routine and Tray Time is usually done during T's nap.  But, I don't want to make his daily schedule too concrete considering he is still 2.

We do, however, use E's Clip Schedule.  It is something I made after a frustrating day of being asked to do the same thing over and over again.  

I took an old oatmeal container and stripped the packaging off the outside and wrote down the things I would like to encourage E to do each day.

I wrote things like Tray Time, Music Time, Help Time, Mommy Time, Play Time,  etc.  I then took clothespins and placed them in the middle of the can.

After E does an activity, he clips it and leaves it until the end of the day.  He is not required to do all the activities in one day.  In fact, I think we have only done this once or twice.

The goal for me is to give E motivation to try different things throughout his day.  I don't force him to do something.  It works more like a list of options.

At the end of the day, E will often take it and sit with Daddy.  He tells him about the things he has done that day.  It helps him remember everything and gives him a chance to included his dad on the activities of the day.

E is currently 29 months old.