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Need some ideas on how to handle my preschoolers who are "followers". These few seems to always be causing fights with the "leaders" daily. My "followers" can't ever seem to figure out how to free play on their own, always wanting to do what everyone else is doing, following others around to the point they get tripped over! No matter whether I sit them down and assign them a task or not, it still doesn't help. I'm to the point where I can't listen to them argue or bicker anymore because I am ready to go crazy. I feel sorry for the "leaders" because I know how annoying it is to be followed around, I feel the same way as them!
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In a mixed age group, that is how the younger ones learn.
I wouldn't feel bad for the leaders as it isn't the worst thing in the world to be emulated. I would suggest trying to get the leaders to appreciate the followers and try to be the biggest and best role models they can.
If it gets really bad, I would definitely assign tasks/activities in small groups.
I try to buddy up my littles to my bigs so that the mix is even. -
sounds like they just want to be joiners. teach them how to join in with the leaders. May I play too ? make sure those leaders are not excluding them.It:
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They are probably not used to entertaining themselves- this is usually common in children who are only children or whose parents try to dictate all of their activities and never let them have free time. Put them in a room with toys and tell them this is called "free play" meaning that they will play only with the other kids and you will only supervise. the only rules they have are no hurting each other or throwing things. At first do this for 5-15 minutes at a time then slowly increase it by 5 more minutes. Another thing you can do is have them play a game like simon says and then show them how to play (If they do not know already) and then 1 person (Simon) is the leader. This will help them learn to have fun in a group and how to follow instructions.Comment
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