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[Josiegirl]

Wow, you've got a tough group!!
Do they behave any better outdoors, is their worse behavior happening all inside? What about incorporating some gross motor skill games(you can modify Twister into such a silly game such as touch a red circle with your nose, with your belly button, get really silly about it)? Some different activities they've never done before? Do they do well with sand table play or do they wreak havoc with stuff like that too? I think I'd try to create indoor/outdoor games that will keep them moving and laughing. Make a road with painter's tape, all through a room and let them play with cars.
What would happen if you bent down and whispered instead of talk to them, do you think it would help to regain a calmer atmosphere?
It sounds like these kids need to be kept busy, maybe even more so than other groups. But that one dck you mentioned that showed such disrespect to you, I'd have to think twice about keeping him.
Another thought(and I know it's frowned upon by some) is an incentive chart. You don't have to make it about winning things per say but they could work towards having an afternoon at the movies(your place, not an actual theater eeks!), have a picnic, make it a special afternoon after the group has earned so many stickers or whatever. It might be just enough to break this cycle of naughtiness they've gotten into. Have they always been like this or do you think they're starting to test you more for some reason?
Find out what makes them tick and find some activities geared towards that. Is it bugs? Baseball? Camping and fishing? Dinosaurs?
Just some random thoughts. I hope things start getting better for you. If not, I'd seriously think about weeding them out 1 by 1 and replace as you can. You will feel SO much better and normal again!! The stress you're living with cannot be fun or good for you.
Oh and for now, I think I'd take down every single thing off the walls that you can, and get rid of 90% of the stuff you have. Start with just a few basic toys. They should not be that destructive.

[nothingwithoutjoy]

I'm sorry you're dealing with this!

I would suggest more, much more, outside time. Don't take it away from them; they need to move, and you're hurting yourself (and your home) as well as them.

Here, the weather right now is play-outside-all-day nice. Is it like that where you are? I'd spend the entire morning outside and only come in for nap (or lunch, if that feels easier, though it's often worth the extra prep to have it ready to go out if it saves you some mess). And make sure they play really hard. Chase them. Do active water play (i.e. running with the hose v. sitting in the wading pool). Do something wild and super engaging (whole-body shaving cream play. Mud pit. Something messy and irresistible.). Give them materials to encourage the climbing and jumping they want to do: crates and boards for building, perhaps? Use mortars and pestles to pound sidewalk chalk to smithereens (my kids' current obsession. Next step, mix with water and use it to paint.) Is there a nearby natural area you could explore? Often, just getting into the woods is a cure for crazy behavior.

As hard as it is, I'd try to listen to the message they're trying to send: what do they need? What are they doing, and what's a healthier way to channel that same desire?

If every kid is running, that's telling you something. I'd drop whatever you're doing and get outside. Run and run and run. There's a big hill down the street from us; the kids love to run up and roll down over and over again. Something like that would be just the ticket for your group, I'd bet.

I imagine you are totally fried dealing with this. I hope you find a few minutes' peace tomorrow, and it builds quickly to a calmer group.

[kendallina]

I'm sorry you're dealing with this!

I would suggest more, much more, outside time. Don't take it away from them; they need to move, and you're hurting yourself (and your home) as well as them.

Here, the weather right now is play-outside-all-day nice. Is it like that where you are? I'd spend the entire morning outside and only come in for nap (or lunch, if that feels easier, though it's often worth the extra prep to have it ready to go out if it saves you some mess). And make sure they play really hard. Chase them. Do active water play (i.e. running with the hose v. sitting in the wading pool). Do something wild and super engaging (whole-body shaving cream play. Mud pit. Something messy and irresistible.). Give them materials to encourage the climbing and jumping they want to do: crates and boards for building, perhaps? Use mortars and pestles to pound sidewalk chalk to smithereens (my kids' current obsession. Next step, mix with water and use it to paint.) Is there a nearby natural area you could explore? Often, just getting into the woods is a cure for crazy behavior.

As hard as it is, I'd try to listen to the message they're trying to send: what do they need? What are they doing, and what's a healthier way to channel that same desire?

If every kid is running, that's telling you something. I'd drop whatever you're doing and get outside. Run and run and run. There's a big hill down the street from us; the kids love to run up and roll down over and over again. Something like that would be just the ticket for your group, I'd bet.

I imagine you are totally fried dealing with this. I hope you find a few minutes' peace tomorrow, and it builds quickly to a calmer group.

Very well said! Hopefully OP will post with update.

[Silly Songs]

Outside time is very important for children. As a center, we go outside 2X a day. Do you do circle time in the morning ? That sets the tone for the next few activities for us . We go over the rules at that time, usually in a song. After that we do structured activities, 2 tables. One table does one activity, the other does a different one. Then they switch. After that they have art, play dough, etc. Then we try to go outside for half an hour. When we come in it's story time / bathroom/ heartbreak/ hand washing. That keeps us busy until lunch. Maybe your group needs set activities at set times . I know that telling my trouble makers I am informing mom/ dad about their behavior usually works.