Preschool Circle Time - Troubleshooting Tips!
Whether you are a parent or a teacher, we have all experienced the hardships that have come with young children adjusting to a new environment. Change and transition can be HARD, especially with little ones. When my son was 20 months, our family moved across the country from Charlotte, NC to Arkansas. WOW is all that I can say. The transition was brutal. Tears, troubles, and BITING...on his first day of preschool. Nothing like signing that lovely pink incident report form on the first day.
With that being said, all children respond to change differently, and you are likely to see some big emotions out of 1 or 2 of your children as they adjust to the new classroom.
In college, I will never forget the continual drilling from the professors of the importance of rules, routines, and procedures! They always said that if zero academic teaching took place in the first month, that was OK, because if you have a classroom that is out of control, the learning will be, too. After my first year of teaching, I completely understood.
Having clear rules, consistent routines, and well-established procedures can truly make all the difference when it comes to helping children adjust to a new environment. But even with these structures in place, challenges can still arise. Some children may struggle more than others, displaying signs of anxiety, frustration, or reluctance to engage. It's in these moments that having a toolkit of strategies becomes essential.
3 Tips for Setting Up a Successful Circle Time:
1 - Use a Signal Sound or Phrase!
Choose a fun phrase or instrument sound to alert
children to come to the carpet. Practice hearing the instrument or phrases, freezing, and looking at the teacher. A simple chime, bell, or instrument may work. You can also have a class phrase. Here is my favorite phrases. The teacher says, “One, two three…” and the children respond with, “Learn with me!” This indicates that it is time to clean up and head to the carpet. Practice makes perfect. Practice playing, stopping, and moving. Make it into a fun game and celebrate!
2 — Model Circle Time Behavior! Do not assume that children understand even the basic of things. We have to TEACH each and every step of our expectation for things to run smoothly. This is where we use modeling, practice, and role playing. After you have practiced your circle time signal, model how to join at the carpet with listening ears. Allow children to see you model both appropriate and inappropriate behaviors. Be sure to talk about feelings. How would you feel if you had something super important to share but no one was listening? Call on children to “become” the teacher, role play different scenarios and discuss feelings. You can even record it and share examples later when situations arise!
3 - Praise, Praise, Praise! Positive reinforcement is key. Research shows that we need a minimum of 3 positive comments for every one negative, and I would argue that for young children, this is even higher. When first teaching the circle time expectations, be on high alert for positive behaviors. Praise again and again and try your best to catch a child that is struggling with expectations in a positive act. Redirect when needed, stand your ground on your expectations, and celebrate those moments when children get it right!
What are YOUR favorite circle time tips? Share them in the comments!
Troubleshooting Tips for Undesired Circle Time Behaviors:
Despite our best efforts of role playing and positive praise, we are bound to have a few children that continue to struggle with circle time. Here are some circle time tips for managing the most difficult behaviors, grouped by age:
Ages 1-2:
Problem: Some children feel reluctant to join during circle time.
Solution: Allow each child to hold a special item, such as a stuffed animal, baby doll, or sensory object, to help encourage them to join in on the fun!
Problem: Difficulty getting children to form a circle and stay together.
Solution: Use a rope or hula hoop for them to hold onto, creating a sense of belonging and a clear physical boundary for the circle.
Problem: Short attention spans make it challenging to keep children seated during circle time.
Solution: Adjust expectations by celebrating the simple act of getting them to the carpet, and gently redirect if they wander off.
Problem: Children lose focus easily during circle time.
Solution: Keep circle time animated with lots of movement, such as standing, clapping, and dancing, and incorporate tactile experiences like instruments and scarves. You can also check out Baby Doll Circle Time, which I recently learned about from a fabulous preschool director.
Problem: Children need motivation to participate in circle time.
Solution: Use positive praise for small wins, like sitting for a few minutes, to reinforce behavior and build motivation. Clap and celebrate when each child completes a simple task or activity with the group.
Ages 3-5:
Problem: Some children have difficulty keeping their hands to themselves or
staying in one place.
Solution: Use carpet squares or sit spots to create clear boundaries, giving each child their own space to sit. If needed, allow specific children to sit in a chair at the back of the circle. Also provide calming tools like fidget toys or sensory objects to help with self-regulation and keep their hands occupied.
Problem: Children struggle with following directions and staying engaged.
Solution: Encourage positive behavior by playing Teacher/Student game. Simply write T for teacher and S for student in a T-Chart on the board. If you “catch” a positive behavior., the children earn a point. If you notice undesired behaviors, the teacher earns a point. Count the totals at the end of the circle time block and celebrate if the children won!
NOTE: Let the children win the first few times that you play to build engagement and buy in, and never specifically call out a child’s name for the undesired behavior. Simple say, “Oh, I see that some children are talking while I am trying to read. That is a point for me!”
Problem: Children often need to release energy and struggle to sit still. Solution: Incorporate frequent movement breaks. We typically do a short teacher-guided activity, followed by a movement song, followed by a story, followed up an active group game. Lots of up and downs is KEY!
Problem: Children refuse to join the circle and participate. Try these four ideas:
1- Consider a Buddy System: Pair a struggling child with a friend that enjoys circle time. Encourage the two paired children to work together, giving each other positive praise for doing the right thing.
2- Offer Two Choices: Provide the child with options that allow them to feel in control, while still joining circle time. For example: "You can sit in the chair or on the green dot." "You can hold a block or a stuffed animal, but you must join us."
3- Set a Timer: Use a visual or audio timer to give the child a few extra moments to transition to circle time. "I’m going to set a timer and when it goes off, I’ll meet you at the circle. Let’s see if we can get there together."
4- Use a Visual Picture Schedule: Give the child clear visual cues for what’s happening next, along with verbal prompts. "We are in center time now, next I’ll ring the bell, and then you’ll join us at circle. See, it’s almost time!" This builds anticipation and sets clear expectations for participation.
Watch these tips on YouTube!
Remember, each child is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Some children may need individual behavior plans if behaviors persist. Email me if you need support in this area! You've got this! Stay patient, flexible, and persistent, and over time, you'll find the strategies that resonate best with your group!
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