Head Start : A Typical Day at Head Start

What would be your child’s routine in a Head Start program? Most children will attend a half day program at one of our centers, where a daily schedule is posted each week. A typical schedule would be:

Circle Time is for group activities during which time children listen and share with others.	Small and Large Group Activities provide the teaching staff time to work with children on a specific activity, such as a game, a project for the classroom or a hands-on investigation of an interesting topic.
Meals and snacks are provided that promote healthy food choices, good manners and enjoyment of sharing a meal with friends.	Free Play offers children time to explore learning centers. They choose what activities interest them and learn to take turns in order to use each center.
Outside/gym time is for active play.	Healthy habits are encouraged. For instance, time is set aside for tooth-brushing and hand-washing.
Transportation may be available with a bus ride at the beginning or end of each day. The driver is joined by a rider to ensure safety. Staff greet children, buckle their seat belts and offer activities during the ride that support classroom learning, such as singing rhyming songs or looking for certain colors of cars.	The daily schedule encourages children to experience the excitement of making new discoveries and mastering new skills.