Can someone help me plan the care for a child aged 3 for a full day at nursery?

Let him play educational toys like number blocks, Lego, memory card games.

Since a 3-year-old doesn't have a long attention span, you'll need to come up with a whole lot of short activities:

1. Movement time: you can do this several times a day: toe touches, wiggling fingers, Simon Says type movements...you can also teach children body parts by having them touch their nose, ear, eye, elbow, knee, foot, etc.

2. Cooking:
a. Instant pudding is great for a 3-year-old to stir in a large plastic cup and then eat.
b. Have the child make his/her own english muffin pizza. Have him/her scoop and spread some pizza sauce, put a couple of pieces of pepperoni on top and then sprinkle cheese on top of that. You put it in the oven and get it out, but the child puts it together and gets to eat it when it's ready.
c. Have the child make his/her own trail mix. Put out an assortment of mini marshmallows, nuts, raisins, froot loops, cheerios, potato sticks, pretzel sticks, etc. and have the child put what he/she wants in a small plastic cup.

3. Art: you can do several art projects each day. Let the child play with clay (it doesn't dry out), watercolor and finger paints, and coloring pages. You can also have the child glue an assortment of pre-cut shapes on a piece of construction paper. You can even have the child try to copy a picture you did....a snowman for example.

4. Music: have a time during the day when you sit and sing songs....even some songs with actions (I'm a Little Teapot, etc.). The ABC's are a good song to review daily, too. You can also let the child use instruments during music time.

5. Physical Education: always plan a gym time, even if you don't have a gymnasium. Exercising and playing simple games like Red Light, Green Light are wonderful activities for gym. You can also have the child follow the leader and go around, over, under or through playground equipment and such.

6. Learning Time: you can do a multitude of activities throughout the day that teach the child. Use colored flashcards to help the child learn the basic colors. Use flashcards with pictures of foods to teach the child about health (what's good to eat and what's not). Use flashcards with animals on them to teach the child about pets and zoo animals and farm animals. Teach the child some nursery rhymes and review them regularly to help with language development skills.

7. Storytime: have a time each day or even twice a day where you read a short story to the child. You can use puppets to tell stories instead of just reading books, too. Get creative.

Of course, you can play dress-up, do counting activities, have a policeman visit, go to the fire department, learn how to wash hands and brush teeth...all kinds of things with a 3-year-old.

I hope these ideas help!

I'm not sure I understand your question. It seems like you are going to place your 3 year old in full day care. If this is the case, then please follow these guidelines. (I am a preschool teacher.)

1. Visit a variety of child care centers, bring your child with you. *They have a great sense of comfort and discomfort. They will be able to tell you if they would like to be there or not. You will also get a good sense of how they treat your child.

2. Show up unexpected once you have chosen a center. This will show you how welcome you are. You don't want a center you are not welcome to pop in on at any time.

3. The first couple of times, stay there with your child. Each time, being less involved with their play, and less in sight. This will show you that your child is getting involved in play.

4. DON'T EVER sneak out on your child. This will instill a sense of fear and deception that will only cause problems. Tell your child that you are going and will be back to pick him up after (tell him an activity - nap, snack, lunch, etc.) This will allow him to have a feel for the time. Tell him when you are going. Say good buy and I Love You.

5. Once you say good buy and I Love You, GO. Don't let him coherse you into staying. This gives him the power over you and your decision.

6. If you are conserned about how he is handling you being gone, call or come by if you can do so without being seen.

7. Arive ON TIME!!!!!!!!! If you don't, your child won't believe you that you are going to return when you say you will.

8. If someone else will be picking up, have that person with you the first couple of times during drop off. This makes it complete for the child.

9. This process will be more difficult for you than it will be for your child. I guarantee it. More parents deal with separation anxiety than children do. Don't let your child see that your are strugling with dropping him off, because he will feed off of your emotions.

Good luck, and don't worry about it. :)

have you tried things like reading stories, singing songs, puzzles, coloring, arts n'crafts, sand or water tables, or preschool computer sites?

Assuming it's a breakfast till 5pm ish time scale I'd say

1) Breakfast or brekkie bar so child has had something nutricious to start the day.

2) Free play-chance to explore toys and resources
Outdoors play included in this.

3) Snack about 10/11-or a snack bar whatever is more appropriate.

4) More play-can be a structured activity, walk about , sing song etc.

5) Rotate toys and equipment to make sure child is content and stimulated.

(If there's a park or anything nearby go explore the park)

6) If they have tea then have tea-if not then before home time have a quieter play session with jigsaws, TV (if u allow it).

Child should have free access to drinking water, toilet breaks and a place to have space to rest if they want.