Table 1.

Tasks performed by educators by category

Category	Description of activity
Documentation and administrative tasks	Writing observation forms, documentation assessment for schools, keep a diary of the progress of the children
Child care	Change nappies, help children to change clothes
Meals	Providing of food, feeding of smaller children
Afternoon nap	Supervision of the afternoon nap
Contact to parents	Welcoming, parents' evenings
Educational work	Singing, sportive activities, preparation und conducting of small experiments
Cleaning	Cleansing of rooms and toys, plants and animal husbandry
Continuing education/Supervision	Attendance at continuing education, supervision of work
Individual contact	Settle a dispute, console a child, welcoming of a child, individual support
Walking	Walking around between tasks (e.g. inside and outside of the day care centre, excursion)
Rest period: Break	Time of recovery (e.g. lunch)
Playing	Playing with children, surveillance of playing children
Internal Communication/meetings	Conversation with other educators or other staff, telephone calls