Help With New Little Guy

[MsLaura529]

So, I know there are many of you who have multiple ages and are still able to do circle time, book reading, crafts, and games. I started a new DCK today, about 19 months. Up until today my youngest was 2.5, so we've had a very easy time of doing group activities.

Now with this little guy, he would sat down for about 4 second with the other kids and then got up and walked around playing. Which I was okay with, I knew he wasn't going to sit there. This is all brand new to him, he's younger, and I get all of that. He would just keep walking in front of the kids, bringing me a new toy asking "what's that?", and pulling things down out of their bins making a lot of noise. My other DCKs did a really good job of still sitting down and listening to the story, helping me with the calendar, and singing/dancing to our song, but they started getting upset that he wasn't doing it all with them, and he kept interrupting the story or getting in their way, etc.

Also, during our usual quiet time (after lunch, I turn on some quiet music and they read books while I clean up the dishes and table ... this has never, since day one, been an issue). Well, this little guy doesn't like to sit still, at all, apparently, so he wasn't going to sit there even with the little bin of books I put in front of him (with some of his favorites that his mom told me about). That's ok, he can get up and walk around, but he decided t just make about ever noise he possibly could, and they got the other kids all riled up ...

I just don't know what to DO with him during these times. Eventually, routine will sink in, right? I guess I'm being a negative nancy right now and seeing no light at the end of the tunnel for this little guy.

[preschoolteacher]

He'll get it! I think adjusting to life as part of a group is a big change. Is he used to being one-on-one with an adult? He might have no clue how to sit and listen as a group, line up as a group, wait after lunch as a group. He's also very young to have any of those skills. I think with time and age, he'll pick up on it!

Your older kids should be able to understand something like "DCB is young, and he's still learning how to sit and listen. We can show him how we do it!" And then ignore his walking around behavior at circle time as much as possible. Can you put some interesting toys off to the side where you can supervise him, but so he can't bang things around and cause a ruckus in the middle of the group?

What about changing circle time so that it's during his nap (if the older ones are awake then)?

I bet your kids are feeling distracted because they aren't used to having a little one causing noise and commotion during their routine. I would not focus too much on DCB's distractions because it might cause the older kids to hone in on it. If you are casual and relaxed--"DCB is playing because he is still little, but we are reading a book. What do you think would happen next?"---they'll pick up on your vibe.

Can you pair an older kid (4,5) with him to "help" him during these times? It would have to be the right kid. Someone who is gentle and could hold his hand, encourage him to sit by him/her.

[JoseyJo]

It sounds like your routine is very similar to ours We take 18 mo and up and do Circle time, learning activities, art and even quiet reading time after breakfast and lunch while we clean up.

I have tried it different ways and for us I have found keeping the routine from day one works best. I don't let them get out toys or walk around during group activities even when they are new. For example at reading time I would try to get him to sit with the group, when he got up I would (nicely) tell him sit down please. After 1 or 2 times of getting up I would sit him next to me, then on my lap if he got up again. I would explain that we are reading now, it is not time to play. Every time he tried to get up I would say "We are reading now, it is not time to play". I do A LOT of "rinse and repeat" instruction the first couple of days. The first day I think our new-this-week 22 mo got up and ran for the playroom 30 times during our 20 minute craft time. Yesterday it was probably 10 times, today it was 5 times.

[MsLaura529]

Thank you for the suggestions ladies.

He is coming from another daycare (his family just moved to the area) so it's not a completely new world to him. However, his parents are both teachers and so he's only been going once a week over the summer. I don't know what routine was like at his old daycare.

I think I'm just going to give him some chances, and reminders on what everyone else is doing (when he would walk/stand in front of everyone during the story today, I would say "DCB, if you want to listen to the story, you can sit down next to DCK" and then went back to the story. He would look at whichever kid I mentioned and then walk away to find another toy.) I'm keeping my fingers crossed that once he is here consistently once school starts it will get easier for him to get used to things. His mom said he LOVES when things go the same each day, so we'll see