Littles and Circle Time

[mduck]

I need some advice. I have a school age dd that I home school. We turned one of my bed rooms into a school room. It's not big but I do have a large chalkboard, desks, a library wall and a rug amoung other visuals and kid artwork up. I will wake early and teach her the one on one stuff before mine is awake and before dcg gets here. Then I let her do independent stuff while the littles are awake. I'm hoping to start letting my littles (my dd 20 months and dcg 14 months) in the room to color and maybe for some circle time activities. I recently took my desk out in order to put in a little table and two chairs for them. Any how, I was wondering if I should expect them to sit during this time??? I really don't know when they would be ready/able to do this or are they yet too young? If so how long should I expect them to sit and how long is too long? I experimented with my 20 month old and let's just say I either think she didn't get it or simply didn't want to do it. It took a lot of reminders to keep her sitting and she fussed a lot about it. Up until now I usually just let them roam IF I even let them in there at all.

[Leigh]

I need some advice. I have a school age dd that I home school. We turned one of my bed rooms into a school room. It's not big but I do have a large chalkboard, desks, a library wall and a rug amoung other visuals and kid artwork up. I will wake early and teach her the one on one stuff before mine is awake and before dcg gets here. Then I let her do independent stuff while the littles are awake. I'm hoping to start letting my littles (my dd 20 months and dcg 14 months) in the room to color and maybe for some circle time activities. I recently took my desk out in order to put in a little table and two chairs for them. Any how, I was wondering if I should expect them to sit during this time??? I really don't know when they would be ready/able to do this or are they yet too young? If so how long should I expect them to sit and how long is too long? I experimented with my 20 month old and let's just say I either think she didn't get it or simply didn't want to do it. It took a lot of reminders to keep her sitting and she fussed a lot about it. Up until now I usually just let them roam IF I even let them in there at all.

At this age, I wouldn't EXPECT more than 2-5 minutes of sitting still. You might get more, but that is a lot to ask of kids that age.

[daycare]

my circle time for under 3year to 16 months old

stretch
dance
jump the number on the dice, whats the number say it jump it, clap etc
sing transition song that takes us to sitting
open shut them song, hands end up in our lap
I read one book that is about 2-3 min long
parachute on MWF
music sticks or bells TTH

then back up and rinse and repeat

we do this 3 times, so we get to read 3 different books.

[Controlled Chaos]

My circle time for ages 12m-3y toddlers are allowed to wander in and out but they almost always stay and try to participate.
Sing name song
Sing if your happy and you know it
Sing abcs then take turns finding letters on poster
Count to 10 on poster,
Sing this old man or ants go marching
Calendar time with songs for different concepts

We stand and dance to most songs

[laundrymom]

I specialize in the under 3 crowd. Our circle time happens at the snack table. Then we move to play room for large motor.

[finsup]

We homeschool too! I do circle time with my 3.5yr old and almost 2yr old dcb. Its a lot of active time, not just sitting so it lasts about 20 mins. When we get to the end we read two stories, one from the Bible, one from a book. Once we get to the book is where I start to lose the almostyr old my other kids are 9 months and they just play in the room while we do it. I'll start having them join in between 18m and 2 unless they show interest earlier. Anyways, decide what you want to iclue, try it for a week and adjust as needed. What works for one kid may not work for another (which I'm sure to know!) So just go wit what works best for your group if it doesn't work at all, no big deal, try again in a few weeks.

[Annalee]

My littles wander in and out during group/preschool time...gradually they join in completely. We are in one large room so supervision is not an issue and I like it that way!