What Do You Do When.....

[Guest]

What do you do with the bigger kids when you are getting the younger kids ready or changing? They are ready to go out right away when they are ready and not wanting to wait.



Also what do you do with the younger kids when you are working with the older kids or picking up lunch or the activity just completed.

They all seem to want my attention all at once. Do you have a one on one schedule?

[athomemommy]

Routine help me make it stick.

getting the kids into a routine. Did you hang it to remind you? Write it down? What works for you? We are still new at this and my kids want to do what they want and that makes the other one want to do it also. Is routine different when you are outside then inside? We have been outside and today a little chilly they don't want to out. And now we are all off.. ..

[Blackcat31]

What do you do with the bigger kids when you are getting the younger kids ready or changing? They are ready to go out right away when they are ready and not wanting to wait.



Also what do you do with the younger kids when you are working with the older kids or picking up lunch or the activity just completed.

They all seem to want my attention all at once. Do you have a one on one schedule?

Alternate the groups. when we are getting ready to go outside, I take my littles out into the coat room and start getting them dressed. While I am doing that I then instruct the big ones to clean up. By the time they are done cleaning up, the littles are ready to go out and have no problem waiting for big ones who quickly dress to go outside. Same with any activity, the key is how you transition everyone. You need to be creative enough with who goes when and after who or before who so that all endings and beginnings of activities are fluid. Here are some great resources.

http://www.brighthub.com/education/early-childhood/articles/35804.aspx

http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/transition-rhymes.htm

http://www.betterkidcare.psu.edu/PDFs/GreatTransitionIdeas.pdf

http://www.transitionmagician.com/Brightideas2.asp

http://www.whattoexpect.com/toddler-discipline/transitioning-toddlers-between-activities.aspx

[Cat Herder]

Blackcat nailed it