Louisiana Home Daycare Daily Schedule

Louisiana doesn't mandate a specific minute-by-minute schedule for home daycare providers, but if you're pursuing Academic Approval under Bulletin 140 — and you should be, given the financial incentives — the CLASS observation scoring system measures the quality of your interactions with children during daily activities. A thoughtful daily schedule is the structure those high-quality interactions happen inside.

What the State Actually Expects

Registered FCC providers under Bulletin 139 must provide age-appropriate activities that support children's physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. That's the broad regulatory language. In practice, what LDOE and CLASS observers want to see is:

• Predictable routines that children can anticipate (arrival, meals, outdoor play, rest, activities, departure)
• A mix of structured and free-choice time — not all teacher-directed, not all free play
• Outdoor play every day weather permits (Louisiana's 75 sq ft per child outdoor space requirement means you need the yard set up and usable)
• Age-appropriate learning opportunities — sensory play for toddlers, early literacy and numeracy activities for preschoolers, creative arts
• Transitions that are smooth, not chaotic — CLASS scores Classroom Organization partly on how well transitions flow

Sample Schedule Structure

A typical full-day schedule for a mixed-age FCC home might look like:

7:00–8:30 — Arrival and free play (children arrive at staggered times; quiet activities available)

8:30–9:00 — Breakfast (USDA meal pattern if on CACFP)

9:00–9:30 — Circle time / group activity (story, songs, calendar for preschool-age children)

9:30–10:30 — Structured activity (art project, sensory bin, early literacy, math manipulatives — rotated daily)

10:30–11:30 — Outdoor play (gross motor, nature exploration, water play in warm months)

11:30–12:00 — Lunch

12:00–2:30 — Rest time (infants nap on their own schedule; preschoolers rest for a set period with quiet activities for children who don't sleep)

2:30–3:00 — Afternoon snack

3:00–4:00 — Free-choice activity (dramatic play, building blocks, puzzles, art materials)

4:00–5:00 — Outdoor play or indoor gross motor if weather prohibits

5:00–5:30 — Wind-down and pickup

This is a framework, not a rigid requirement. FCC homes have the flexibility to adjust based on the ages and needs of enrolled children. An infant-heavy group will have more nap cycles and fewer structured group activities; a preschool-heavy group can sustain longer activity blocks.

Curriculum Without a Curriculum Package

Louisiana doesn't require FCC providers to purchase a commercial curriculum package. What matters is that your daily activities are intentional and developmentally appropriate. You can build effective programming using:

• Public library resources and story time themes
• LDOE's free early learning guidelines available on their website
• Activity ideas from your CCR&R coaching sessions (free for academically approved providers)
• Simple materials: blocks, crayons, playdough, sensory bins, picture books, outdoor equipment

If you do choose a commercial curriculum, make sure it aligns with Louisiana's early learning standards. Your CCR&R coach can review it during their support visits.

Documentation for Inspections

Keep a posted weekly schedule visible in your main care area. It doesn't need to be elaborate — a simple chart showing the daily routine blocks helps parents understand the structure and demonstrates to inspectors that you're providing planned programming rather than unstructured babysitting.

If you're working toward a strong CLASS score, document your activity plans (even briefly) in a weekly log. Note what you offered, how children engaged, and any adjustments you made. This isn't a state requirement for FCC homes, but it supports your coaching relationship and your quality improvement plan.

The Louisiana Home Daycare Start-Up Guide covers the full physical setup requirements and the health and safety standards that shape your daily environment, from nap area configuration to outdoor play space.

See more Louisiana guides →