It All Falls Apart During Free Play..

[daycare]

experts please..

I have several DCK that are fantastic students. During class time they are my top students. They are always engaged in what we are doing, they are respectful and they are always in a great mood.

THen................we go to free choice play and it all falls apart. The very second that they get to make their own decisions, they have zero self control and just fall apart. They could not make a good decision if it hit them in the head.

How do you teach children like this to gain self control and make better decisions? aside from the obvious.....

[Country Kids]

Can you take them outside? I have found mine do much, much better outside then inside. That is why I'm doing my best to build my outside play area up and just get us out of the house.

I think these kids are just cooped up way to much and can't handle just being able to sit down and play.

If we do play inside, I pick partners have them sit on the floor and give them a basket of toys. I then set a timer and we rotate. I know its not really free play but its what I've had to do with this group.

[daycare]

Can you take them outside? I have found mine do much, much better outside then inside. That is why I'm doing my best to build my outside play area up and just get us out of the house.

I think these kids are just cooped up way to much and can't handle just being able to sit down and play.

If we do play inside, I pick partners have them sit on the floor and give them a basket of toys. I then set a timer and we rotate. I know its not really free play but its what I've had to do with this group.

we already spend about just about every min possible outside for class time. But the issue is not just indoors, it's free play regardless of where it is at.

[Country Kids]

MMMMMMmmm not sure then. Mine just do absolutely wonderful as long as we are outside.

[Leanna]

If your group thrives on more of a structured schedule could you try adding more structure to free play time? Maybe you could make a chart with pictures showing the choices for that day. For example, house & dolls, blocks, drawing, and puzzles (or whatever) are choices on one day. Each child can then choose an area and put some kind of marker (their picture, a name tag, a poker chip, etc.) on their choice. Perhaps each choice is limited to 2 or 3 or 4 kids depending on the materials and space. If their are only 3 spaces then they must choose something else while they wait. They can then start to regulate their own choices. I hope this makes sense !

[daycare]

If your group thrives on more of a structured schedule could you try adding more structure to free play time? Maybe you could make a chart with pictures showing the choices for that day. For example, house & dolls, blocks, drawing, and puzzles (or whatever) are choices on one day. Each child can then choose an area and put some kind of marker (their picture, a name tag, a poker chip, etc.) on their choice. Perhaps each choice is limited to 2 or 3 or 4 kids depending on the materials and space. If their are only 3 spaces then they must choose something else while they wait. They can then start to regulate their own choices. I hope this makes sense !

they are given 2 choices during free play. and I will not cut free play out.

I feel that this is the time that when child needs to take everything I have taught them and put it into action on their own without having to be constantly lead on what to do. they need to self explore, they need to learn to cope with their emotions and listen to their friends emotions and words. I will not referee every argument either. But will encourage them to use their words with each other and work it out on their own. they need to be able to learn how to have self control and learn how to make good decisions. I am always supervising free play, I am just not leading it. This is their time to not have me tell them what to do, how to do it, why to do it and so on.

I have kids that are awesome in free play and then this one that just falls apart. I do think that some of it has to do with one of two things that are happening at home.

either parents don't watch him at all and he is allowed to rule the house or they are helicopter parents that don't allow for the child to ever make decisions for himself.

50% of my day is teacher lead, 25% exploring with minimal direction for me and the rest is free play of their choice, yet still in a learning environment.

[Leanna]

I must have misunderstood your post.

[daycare]

I must have misunderstood your post.

its ok..you were just trying to help. sorry if I came across the wrong way

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I would ask how that child does at home when given the option to play by himself/herself.

[daycare]

I would ask how that child does at home when given the option to play by himself/herself.

I have asked this question, but mom is the kind that plays the blame game. Everything that happens is always someone elses fault.

The parent of course seems to be lost with this as well. Of course, because it's not her fault. So asking the parent about it got me no where.....