Materials
- basket
- small, interesting hand-held toys (water or bead maze games, Slinky(R), wind-up toys, tops, small party favor games, travel-size Etch-a-Sketches)
What to do
1. It can be a challenge to get a group of preschoolers to clean up and come to circle time. Sometimes an incentive is necessary to help children who have finished to wait patiently and those still cleaning to hurry.
2. Put a variety of small, interesting hand-held toys in a basket. Have several of the same toy in the basket to avoid conflicts. Keep the basket of toys near the circle time area.
3. These toys are only to be used for a few minutes before circle time. The children who clean up quickly can play with the toys as they wait for others to finish. This keeps them busy with a small motor activity. Those still cleaning will want to hurry so they also get a turn.
4. Allot about 4 to 5 minutes for this transition toy time. If any children do not finish in time for the toys, tell them that tomorrow if they clean up a little faster, they will have a turn.
5. Use this transition only when needed. Some days you may need to locate a book for circle, so everyone can play with the toys. Other days only one or two children may be restless, or everyone will finish at the same time and not need it.
6. The toys fulfill many purposes. They get the children to the area, help to quiet and center them after being active, provide practice for fine motor skills, and most importantly, prevent any "dead time" when opportunities arise for misbehavior.
-Tracie O'Hara, Charlotte, NC
Instructions
1. As they transition to school at the beginning of the year, some children have
trouble recognizing their names.
2. The first week of school take a close-up picture of each child.
3. Attach the child's picture to her cubby and cover with contact paper.
4. When you ask the child to put items, such as artwork, notes, and other things,
in her cubby, it will be easier for the child.
Note: This is especially helpful if you have children with the same name.
