Running In Circles And Falling ... ?

[craftymissbeth]

what? that sounds awful

Nope. It sounds safe. If I could figure out how to get my young crew to do it, I definitely would! There's no reason for children to be carrying toys everywhere... my littles fall so much I'm just waiting for them to fall on a toy and hurt themselves.

[MsLaura529]

Why would that be awful? :confused:

I can't think of a single activity that NEEDS to be done on their feet.

I have 10-12 kids every day.

The inside is NOT safe for running, jumping or getting wild.

We save that sort of thing for outside.

I would LOVE to have my kiddos be able to do this! I can't see it working with all of them, though I'm jealous! Haha

[Luna]

Mine run in circles too. I just stick my foot out and trip them.

IN MY MIND!

They do stop when I tell them to, but I have to come up with something more fun or they're right back at it.

Then I trip them in my mind again ::

[Unregistered]

I run with them hahaha

[kimsdaycare]

When the group gets to running, that's when you let the littlest have at it with things like mega blocks. Within seconds the floor is typically covered with them. You ever tried running on little squares of plastic? Falling down in that mess once is usually enough to end the running game pretty quick. When they complain, you tell them they are free to pick them all up if they want (which takes quite a while and still gives a you peace for a bit). Pretty effective and the kids usually don't ever figure out what you did there.

I have also been known to pull out the vacuum and be all up in their space with cords and noise asking them to move stuff so I can get certain spots. They usually end up at the table with crayons just to avoid me .

[Maria2013]

I don't know why, but every single day my group decides to run around in circles and/or play thr falling down game (when they stand there and then fall down). This seriously happens 2-3 times a day during free play times. I swear I am going to have a track in my carpet soon. It drives me bonkers for some reason. It's like they don't know how to sit down and play with toys, but yet they are very capable of doing it very well. They just choose not to.

Anyone else deal with this? Or have any tricks on how to stop it? Am I just a weirdo for having it bother me so much?

I only allow running outdoor!
When outdoor time is limited due to weather, my kids still have plenty of room and exercise indoor (dancing, hopping games etc) but only under my supervision and the no running, no spinning rules

[melilley]

Mine do it as well. But, I only have three to four here when they are doing it. It only bothers me after about 10 minutes. And by that time they are usually done. I think its because we haven't been able to get outside. Heck, sometimes I feel like running around the room in a circle and falling down. Only thing stopping me is I am sure I would break something...

:: I know! I can't even spin around once anymore without getting dizzy...

[littleblossoms]

I do not allow running neither.

From the first day of care I teach kids to sit and play.

I not have toys on shelves for them to go. I also limit toys. I gind kids like to dump toys and dont play.

[Jack Sprat]

:: I know! I can't even spin around once anymore without getting dizzy...

:: I can't swing anymore or I get sick to my stomach!

[Unregistered]

"Walking feet inside!" Mine love to stand and play and wander about holding hands and what not. Pretending to go to work or shopping. They can be up and on their feet as much as they wish. Running at all indoors is not aloud. One reminder given only. Then you get to sit for awhile to get settled down. Five munchkins running around in the house is a recipe for disaster.

[hhdc]

my group plays "cars" which involves them pushing the large cars/trucks and sliding across the floor. I only have 3-4 kids here at a time. It cracks them up and they love it. One boy will get really upset if no one wants to play with him. It has been a very long cold month here. It also stops them from pulling out a ton of toys.

[Naptime yet?]

Mine run in circles too. I just stick my foot out and trip them.

IN MY MIND!

They do stop when I tell them to, but I have to come up with something more fun or they're right back at it.

Then I trip them in my mind again ::

[caregiver]

My kiddo's do that all the time too. It does drive me crazy also, but with living where I do, the snow and cold this winter, it seems they are going bonkers because it has been too cold to go outside. So I figure if I am right with them in the playroom and they do this, they are just having a good time and letting some energy wear off. I only have 3 kids at this time now, so it isn't that bad. Sometimes I will also try and twirl around, but at my age, that isn't so easy! I make them stop after a little bit and settle down. They also do the falling down just for the fun of it. But to hear them laugh when they do this I know they are happy and having a good time. I guess at my age....not going to tell, but I have learned to kind of roll with the punches as to say and not get so stressed over every little thing like I used to doing daycare. Kids are kids and as long as I know they are having a good time, and not getting hurt or breaking things, I let them have a good time doing some things like twirling around and falling down.
I can't wait until warmer weather gets here and we can be outside.

[mrw_mn]

I do this, I let kids be kids. I ensure that their environment is safe and they are being respectful to the space and each other. I wouldn't be comfortable sending my child some place that didn't allow them on their feet for dramatic play or whatever kind of play...I can't think of anything besides our reading time, art time or eating that the kids are sitting. Gross motor skills are one of the main domains for development. With the weather we've had here, we've gotten creative with our activities to include a bigger group and wider age group...6month to 13years! One favorite is musical chairs, but we make it our own. The kids do like to dance and spin in circles, but as mentioned in previous responses, the kids are giggling, developing physically, emotionally and socially during this play. Don't get me wrong, I don't condone just running in the house in general, not my my own kids or the daycare kids. There is a time and a place, the kids know when and where that is. The kids' imaginations are the engines of our day and we love it this way, they are thriving!

[MsLaura529]

Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't allow time for dancing and ring-around-the-rosy, or folloe the leader, or just plain being goofy. But their running has gotten so bad, they end up crashing into each other, falling on top of each other, pushing, landing on toys, etc. I've been using "walking feet" a lot, and even my little tornado has used that phrase at home to his parents now

I'm just tired or every time they get to playing a physical game, it turns into running in circles and falling ... shoot, even playing with blocks, or trains, or cars they end up doing that somehow.