Encouraging a toddler to sit for circle time

[Littledragon]

I will be honest ~ I always have a hard time figuring out why people cannot get kids to 'sit' for story time .... every group I have ever had ASKS for circle time even the 1 year old will refuse to go to his mama if she comes during circle time and comes squirming back to sit down until it is done. I honestly have never had an issue with a child not being able to be supported to 'attend' to group time in all my 20 years and I have had 'behaviorally and developmentally delayed' kids in my group ... however I have always offered the option that if you do not want to be there it is ok ~ they can go and play on a carpet with quiet toy instead and while some might try that once or twice eventually they see the other kids having more fun without them and they come around?

I just tried to get my kids to sit in a circle. The 23 month old went blank in his face, like I was speaking a different language. My 16 month old also acted like he didn't understand and carried on playing, and once I did get the 23 month old to sit, tried to get him up to play. And my son, the 13 month old, just kept trying to climb on me. There was no way I was getting them to sit. I just don't know if this is something I am cut out to doing because I have NO idea what I am doing. The 2.5 year old was all excited. I am most successful when I just sit on the floor and sing by myself. They'll walk around me, sometimes they'll dance, sometimes they'll stop and smile, but that's about as far as I get.

[samantha3]

I do a circle time in the play room. I ask the children to sit but they do not necessarily have to because I find that they are still engaged in what is going on, they just need to move around a bit more... especially for the boys! Also, as a few other have mentioned doing lots of movement activities in circle time to keep hands and bodies busy.

[sunnydays]

It akes time! Don't stress about it! Kids don't get these things the first time...you have to keep repeating over and over and over again. It also helps to have some older kids who understnad and can model what you want them to do. I wouldn't stress about getting them to sit. Also, do you have any playgroups near you that you can take them to? I find the kids sit much better in a large group where there are many other kids sitting and modelling the behaviour.

I just tried to get my kids to sit in a circle. The 23 month old went blank in his face, like I was speaking a different language. My 16 month old also acted like he didn't understand and carried on playing, and once I did get the 23 month old to sit, tried to get him up to play. And my son, the 13 month old, just kept trying to climb on me. There was no way I was getting them to sit. I just don't know if this is something I am cut out to doing because I have NO idea what I am doing. The 2.5 year old was all excited. I am most successful when I just sit on the floor and sing by myself. They'll walk around me, sometimes they'll dance, sometimes they'll stop and smile, but that's about as far as I get.