Preschool Play Chart

Mornings can get crazy around here. With everything it takes to get a family of five dressed and ready for the day, we need a little extra structure to help things run smoothly. But I also want the children to have as much freedom as possible to choose how they spend their time.

So I made this Play Chart. I got the idea from a preschool I worked at years ago. Children had a velcro name tag they would use to pick "centers." Of course at the time I had no idea that in a few short years I would have my own in-house preschool with three little people! (I'm glad I didn't know - it would have freaked me out.) But I digress....

We've been using this chart for three weeks now and it's going well. I'm able to get morning tasks accomplished and help the children when they need me. They're able to play where they choose (without having to share toys with any siblings for a while), and switch to a new area when they're ready.

Mornings feel a tad more peaceful now - and I consider that a success.

Do you use any tools or techniques to structure any of your kids' playtime?

(For more Works for Me Wednesday tips, visit We are THAT Family.)