Getting them to engage in activities

[Spixie33]

I don't do crafts every day. maybe 1 or 2 a week and they last about 30 minutes by the time we get smocks on and do it and then wash hands after and clean up

Circle time is a few songs/nursery rhymes and then 2-3 books. Most of the kids sit through it. Even the 1 year old shows interest and tries to grab the book from me every 10 seconds. lol In total circle time is probably 15 minutes and taht is with me talking to them about what happened in the book.

I think it is great to not just read the text but also point out things in the pictures or ask them a question or ask them to find something in the picture etc. I will say to them - does the mommy look happy in this picture?" then the kids will answer me with what mood they think she is and then I will say "Why is she feeling sad?" etc. It engages them a bit more in the books and also works as a great teaching tool to learn feelings or to find things and notice details, etc. Or I will say...do you see the mouse on this page? and let them all take a look. It makes the book take longer but they are engrossed in it the whole way through.

Some days I will do 2 circle times (one morning, one afternoon) if I am bored and they seem bored (like rainy weather outside and we were trapped in all day) but other than that an hour is a long time.

I also get out the ABC letters and quiz them on letters a bit or ask them to find me a letter but even that just takes a few minutes

I also forgot to say that I don't expect/force anyone to stay in the circle or listen but I will be cross if they leave the circle and be noisy/disruptive or do things that prevent others from enjoying the circle. I will talk to them about being respectful. Sometimes even I get too many questions/comments during a story and have to remind them that we have to be respectful to me reading the story and hold our thoughts until the end.