Getting them to engage in activities

[Momof4]

I only have one major craft a week for my theme now and I have a system where I set up the children at the table with different activities like craft scissors just to cut paper for practice, colouring or playing with little toys while I prepare lunch in the next room. That way I can see the children better than if they were 2 rooms away in the toyroom and I'm closer to them and they are stationary. Then I clean up whatever they are working on and set their prepared plates in front of them for lunch. I think it's good that they learn that there are 2 purposes for sitting at the table but in this way the babies are not confused and putting craft items into their mouths.

I've posted in other threads that I've given up trying to conduct a circle time in the toyroom because they are too distracted by the toys and won't sit still for me, not even the older ones. So I read them stories while they eat and when they finish eating we sing a couple of songs with hand movements then I serve their fruit. I either have some little puppets or another story while they finish. It's working for me.