What is Circle Time?
Circle time should be planned as part of a child care provider's daily routine. It should be planned because it provides a place of comfort and predictability for the children. The provider can use it to build in stories. If there's a lot of hitting going on, a provider can tell a story about a child getting hurt. Use circle time as a teaching tool.
Circle time can also be good for encouraging movement. You can start circle time with a physical activity like in-breathing, out-breathing. Calm them down and transition them creatively.
You can do circle time in both a center-based program, as well as in a home-based child care. People get scared and think it's only for a center but you can use in your home daycare too and I encourage it strongly. They don't understand how important it is in a home setting. It teaches kids how to be away from home and follow directions.
You are preparing the kids for a school environment, which is pretty much the job of any daycare worker, you are to prepare them for the future. Through circle time, you present them with a consistent schedule and routine. You can do story time, math activities, puppets or art activities. This is how you help them know what to expect, which is something they need to know for school.
You can still have circle time and involve all the children, even if they are of different age groups. Utilize all their skills. If you tell simple stories, have the older kids help you tell them or act them out. Or sing songs with finger puppets. Make sure to keep it as open as possible. But the main message here is that children should be actively involved -- rather than just passive listening - and often that includes physical movement.
Hey Stay-at-Home Moms, you can still do circle time even if you care for only one child. You can do an official circle time when you're both sitting on the floor, engaging in an activity and singing a song. Children can invite their teddy bears or their dolls into the circle. They can take turns pretending to be the teacher, too.
There are many keys to a successful circle time. Circle time should reflect the children's interests as well as their age and stage development. The teacher should be open to teachable moments and willing to go off the plan. It should be interactive and the children's learning should be hands-on.
The duration of circle time varies depending upon the ages and temperaments of the children and the activity. For 2 and a half year olds, I wouldn't do more than a 5-minute circle.
For older kids, you can do up to fifteen minutes. But the best thing to do is to observe the children. If they're engaged, it's working for them. If they're fidgeting, it's time to close down.
There are many keys to a successful circle time. Circle time should reflect the children's interests as well as their age and stage development. The Daycare Provider or Caregiver should be open to teachable moments and willing to go off the plan. It should be interactive and the children's learning should be hands-on.
Circle Time Songs to Sing
5 little monkeys jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped his head.
Momma called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"
(repeat to one monkey and change the ending the last time to "That's
what you get for jumping on the bed!")
One, Two
1,2 You know what to do.
3,4 Sit on the floor.
5,6 Your feet you fix.
7,8 Sit up straight.
9,10 Let's listen again.
Open Shut Them
Open, shut them, open, shut them; give a little clap, clap, clap.
Open, shut them, open, shut them; lay them in your lap, lap, lap.
Creep them, crawl them, creep them, crawl them; right up to your chin.
Open wide your little mouth, but, do not let them in.
Hello Everyone!
Hello, everybody, it's so nice to be here.
My name is ______________ and I bring you good cheer.
We're gonna have a good time. We're gonna feel happy.
And all you have to do is repeat after me.
Put your hands on your head; put your hands on your knees;
Put your hands on your belly; put your hands on your lap.
Hand upon my head
Hands upon my head I place
Upon my shoulders and on my face
At my waist and by my side
And then behind me they will hide
And then I'll raise them way up high
And let my fingers fly, fly, fly
With a clap, clap, clap
And a one, two, three
Lets see how quiet we can be!
The Color Song
______________(child's name) has blue jeans, blue jeans, blue jeans
______________(child's name) has blue jeans on today.
(go around circle, describing an article of clothing for each child.)
Days of the Week
Days of the Week
(tune of the Adam's Family):
Days of the week(clap clap)
Days of the week
Days of the week
Days of the week (Clap Clap)
There's Sunday and there's Monday
there's Tuesday and there's Wednesday
There's Thursday and there's Friday
And then comes Saturday!
Share a Story for Circle Time
- Choose a story that will appeal to your audience and suit the children' s attention span.
- Choose a book with bright and large illustrations
- Provide an alternate activity for those who lose interest.
- Choose books that invite participation though repeated verses or rhymes.
- Start by grabbing their attention with "magic story dust" or a calming fingerplay.
- Ask questions to set the stage for listening. For example," What do you think will happen to Miffy mouse?"
- Substitute the children's names for character names to add interest.
- Be flexible. Skip or alter parts of a book as the needs of your young listeners' dictate.
- Use props to bring a story alive.
- Try a new introduction or attention grabber before starting a story.
- Pick a book the children are familiar with. Add their names or make silly mistakes to get their attention
- Try asking the children to predict what will happen next.
Hopped Up Hide and Seek
This game may seem like nothing more than a slightly tweaked version of "Hide and Go Seek", but don’t be fooled. Sure it’s fun, but in between all that play, it reinforces verbal instructions and listening skills. Plus, it gives kids practice with positional words and number concepts.
In this version of the game instead of hiding yourself, you’ll hide a very small item, such as a penny, for your child to find. Begin by having her close her eyes until you have placed the item in a well-hidden location. Give simple but very specific directions to guide your child in finding the object. A typical game might include:
“Walk three steps forward.”
“Turn toward the window.”
“Walk five steps forward.”
“Walk two more steps forward.”
“Look up on the second shelf.”
“Look behind the plant.”
At first, allow her to finish each step before moving on to the next direction. But once she’s gotten the hang of it, challenge her memory and her listening skills, by giving multiple-step instructions: “Walk three steps forward and then turn toward the window.”
Don’t be a "Hide and Seek" hog! After playing the game a number of times, allow your child to hide the object for you to find. In the beginning, it may be difficult for her to give specific instructions, but as long as you don’t gloss over her mistakes, she’ll improve quickly. Be sure to follow her instructions exactly, so that she can learn from any errors that are made. For example, if your child tells you to look beside a cup but really means for you to look behind it, she will quickly understand when she sees your actions that she used the incorrect word. Give suggestions as needed.
The great thing about this game is that it’s portable! It can be played just about anywhere, from the park, to your own living room, to a doctor’s waiting room.
The skills of giving and following directions are an important part of every young child’s life. When presented in a game format, they can be fun too!
Make Paper Bowl Hats
There are some craft projects so complicated that you wonder how even adults can complete them. This isn’t one of those crafts. Instead, it’s a preschool classic that's great for passing the time on a rainy afternoon, and it won't stress out parents looking for an easy activity to pass the time.
What You Need:
A paper bowl
A hole punch
2 ribbons
Paint
Glue
Dried pasta, feathers, and buttons
Streamers
A stapler
What You Do:
Turn the bowl upside down and paint the exterior. Let dry. Help your child glue pasta, buttons, feathers, etc. on the top and sides of the bowl.
Punch a hole on each side of the bowl, directly opposite each other. Tie a ribbon to each hole.
Staple strips of streamers to the back of the hat.
Tie the ribbons under your child’s chin to hold the hat in place on his head. Instant fun!
Blind Finger Counting
Counting on one’s fingers is a ubiquitous feature of preschool math. In this game, kids learn to count with their fingers – but without their eyes! They will need to practice count mentally to get the quantity right. With the element of surprise, this activity is as fun as it is educational.
What You Need:
A shoebox
An exacto knife
Masking or packing tape
Pennies or other small objects such as nuts, buttons, marbles, etc.
What You Do:
Tape the lid to the box.
Cut a hole in the side of the box big enough for your child to fit her hand through, but not big enough for her to see through.
While her eyes are closed, drop a few pennies (or whatever small item you’ve chosen) through the hole in the box.
Ask her to stick her hand inside and count with her fingers. Repeat with different quantities and different items to keep it fun.
Make Paper Plate Tambourines
Looking for a noisemaker that's more musical than your typical preschooler's banging and clanging? Try this quick arts and crafts activity that will produce a homemade paper plate tambourine! It’s easy to make with supplies you probably have on hand, and it makes a great toy. No wonder it’s a classic!
For each tambourine, you will need:
2 paper plates
A handful of dried beans
A stapler
Magic markers, stickers, glitter glue, etc
What you do:
Set one paper plate on the table and have your child drop a good handful of beans on it.
Top with the other plate, face side down, and staple the edges of the plates together. Make sure the staples are close enough together that no beans can escape!
When the tambourine is fully constructed, hand your child the art supplies and let him go crazy with the decorations! Stickers, finger paint, even feathers and ribbons will give this quick craft a touch of flair to last through many musical numbers!
Out of the Box! Let Your Kids be the Star of the Show!
Sick of hearing, "Mooo-oom! Can I watch TV?" The next time this common cry fills your living room, how about suggesting your child create a memorable program of his own? Once the little superstar in your life discovers how much fun it is to make up his own characters and stories, Spongebob might just have to find a new place to hang out...
What You Need:
Large cardboard box (big enough for a child to perch under). If you don't have any around your home, try a grocery store (they usually have extras and are willing to give them away), or they can be purchased anywhere storage supplies are sold.
Paints, crayons, markers, glitter, sequins, feathers, glue - anything that your child might like to use to decorate his very own TV!
Heavy-duty scissors or utility knife (all cutting in this activity MUST be done by an adult)
What to Do:
You can't have a proper television show without a proper television. Start by cutting a large square or rectangular hole on one side of your cardboard box. Next, let your child decorate his new TV however he wants (make sure you do this project in a place that can get a little messy). When the television is all finished (and the paint and glue has fully dried), have your child perch on his knees under the box so his face and chest are visible through the "screen." Your little one is all set to star in his very own show! If you have some extra cardboard, why not make a little remote? As you "change the channel" you'll be able to enjoy all your child's imagination has to offer.
Let's Play Make-Believe!
Pretend play toys for preschoolers don't have to be elaborate. You can use items from your own kitchen like measuring spoons, plastic bowls, wooden spoons and plastic cups. Children love playing make-believe and it encourages social interaction. I know from my own personal experience that playing restaurant is a huge hit with the kids. Simple toys like pretend food and plates is a great way to do this. You don't have to buy the fancy pretend kitchen set (although we have one...he he). Kids just want to interact and create! During make-believe time we like to play "restaurant" and "house" and we use sign language to teach the different foods and household items. Anyways you want to play make-believe is fine but I encourage all stay at home parents and caregivers to set aside 20-30 minutes in their toddler and preschoolers daily schedule.
Build a Sand Sculpture That You Can Keep
With the weather warming and summer just around the corner, trips to the beach are slowly becoming a part of the routine again. But sometimes making it to the beach as often as we would like to isn't always feasible. Here’s a great craft that will bring you and your daycare children right back to those lazy, sand-filled days at the beach, and tide you over until your next trip. With some sand and some cornstarch, your child can create her very own sand castle at home that won't wash away.
What You Need:
Sand (about 4 cups)
Cornstarch (about 2 cups)
Water (about 2 cups)
Old Pot
Stir stick
Shells (for decorating)
Piece of square flat cardboard
Bowl of water
.
What to Do:
Mix the sand and cornstarch in an old pot. Make sure it's one that you won't use anymore to cook your family’s meals, because the sand and cornstarch can really scratch up a good pot. (And you don’t want your next chicken dish to taste like the beach!)
Pour the 2 cups of water into the sand and cornstarch mixture and heat on the stove over low heat. (This step may be best for grown-ups only.)
Keep stirring until the sand is close to the consistency of very thick mud.
Cool the mixture in another bowl. Lay some newspaper down in an area outside where your child will work with the sand. Keep the piece of cardboard handy for when she is ready to build her castle.
Once the mixture has cooled, dump it onto the newspaper outside. Make sure the mixture is completely cooled before letting your child dig in.
Explain to your child that she should knead the mixture in her hands until it feels like Play-doh. If the sand starts to dry out, wet her hands and let her continue to work with the mixture. (Keep a bowl of water handy for this purpose.)
And now the real fun begins: have your child free-form a castle onto her piece of cardboard. Talk to her about creating different forms – a square castle perhaps, or a tall and pointy one. Encourage her to use her imagination when building. And don't be afraid to make your own sand castle along with her!
Before the sand dries, apply shells around the castle to give it an extra, beachy touch.