--- title: "A Day in the Life" description: "The daily rhythm at LPC from drop-off to pickup, the two daily snacks, plus where literacy, math, science, and social skills get built." source: /day-in-the-life canonical: https://lexpc.org/day-in-the-life last-reviewed: 2026-11-10 --- # A Day in the Life ## Day in the life — intro A play-based day isn’t a free-for-all and it isn’t a row of desks. It’s a thoughtfully shaped rhythm: arrival, gathering, long stretches of hands-on play and projects, meals together, time outdoors in every season, and a real rest. The structure stays the same so children always know what comes next; what fills it follows the class’s interests. ## The rhythm of the day ### Toddler schedule ### 8:00 – 10:00 — Free Play Many choices are available every day — blocks, water play, dress-up, puppets, books, crayons, markers, painting, gluing, woodworking, clay, and playdough. ### 10:00 – 10:30 — Toileting & Snack Toileting and a snack together at the table. ### 10:30 – 11:15 — Circle Time & Project Time Circle time has a group focus: we sing songs and fingerplays, play musical instruments, take part in movement games, or discuss the topics of the day. Project time is a small-group time when we often paint, glue, and create — along with nature walks, trips to the library, and cooking. ### 11:15 – 12:00 — Outdoor Time We usually play on our large playground. During inclement weather, the children use riding toys, balls, hula-hoops, and the parachute in the Great Hall, our large indoor activity room. ### 12:00 – 1:00 — Lunch & Toileting as Needed Lunch, brought from home, with toileting as needed. ### 1:00 – 3:00 — Nap, Rest & Quiet Activities A quiet stretch for napping, resting, and calm activities. ### 3:00 – 4:00 — Toileting, Snack, Stories & Free Play Toileting, an afternoon snack, stories, and free play. ### 4:00 – 5:00 — Outdoor Time More time outside on the playground. ### 5:00 – 6:00 — Stories & Free Play Stories and free play, with many other quiet activities such as music, coloring, laps, and hugs. ### Preschool schedule ### 8:00 – 10:00 — Free Play Many choices are available every day — blocks, water play, dress-up, puppets, books, crayons, markers, painting, gluing, woodworking, clay, and playdough. ### 10:00 – 10:30 — Snack A snack together at the table. ### 10:30 – 11:30 — Circle Time & Project Time Circle time has a group focus: we sing songs and fingerplays, play musical instruments, take part in movement games, or discuss the topics of the day. Project time is a small-group time when we often paint, glue, and create — along with nature walks, trips to the library, and cooking. ### 11:30 – 12:15 — Outdoor Time We usually play on our large playground. We may also take a walk, or during inclement weather the children use riding toys, balls, hula-hoops, and the parachute in the Great Hall, our large indoor activity room. ### 12:15 – 1:00 — Lunch Lunch, brought from home. ### 1:00 – 3:00 — Nap, Rest & Quiet Activities A quiet stretch for napping, resting, and calm activities. ### 3:00 – 3:30 — Stories & Free Play Stories, then back to free play. ### 3:30 – 4:30 — Outdoor Time More time outside on the playground. ### 4:30 – 6:00 — Stories, Snack & Free Play Stories, a snack, and free play, with many other quiet activities such as music, coloring, laps, and hugs. _Exact times shift by classroom and with the season — the rhythm stays the same._ ## Two nutritious snacks, every day. LPC provides two nutritious snacks each day for children to enjoy while they are at school. A morning snack is served around 10:00 a.m., and an afternoon snack is served between 3:00–4:00 p.m. Our snack menu features wholesome, nutrient-dense foods that provide children with lasting energy throughout the day. We offer a variety of fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and quality proteins while limiting added sugars and highly processed foods. Children often become curious about foods they see their friends enjoying, and watching their classmates try something new can make them more willing to give it a try too. Snack time is also a wonderful social experience — we love seeing children explore new tastes, build confidence, and develop healthy eating habits in a relaxed and supportive environment. ## Where the learning is ### Language & literacy Read-alouds, songs, dictating a story to a teacher, labeling a drawing, and the constant back-and-forth of conversation. That’s how vocabulary, listening, and the building blocks of reading take root — long before formal reading lessons. ### Math & science Counting cups at snack, sorting blocks by size, measuring the rain, predicting what floats. Number sense and scientific thinking come from solving real problems the children actually care about. ### Social & emotional Taking turns, joining a game, working out a disagreement, naming a big feeling. These are the skills that make kindergarten — and the rest of life — go well, and they’re practiced all day long. ### Body & coordination Climbing, balancing, digging, pouring, cutting, threading beads. Whole days of doing build the big-muscle and fine-motor control that handwriting, sports, and self-care will later lean on.