Circle time

[KingstonMom]

I like everyones ideas, I do not do circle time as yet because I have 2 15 month olds and a 2 1/2 year old, and like Playfelt says, mine at this age WOULD NOT stay for circle time at all.
I think the younger ones (2 and under) are best using their energy practicing their arge motor skills, dancing, running, crouching etc are far more relevant than counting skills etc. Just my opinion.
In a few weeks, I will be getting 2 four olds, so we will statrt something with my 2 1/2 yo and the 4 year olds, as they would benefit more from these circle time activities.
I sing (with a bit of help) the abc's, wheels on the bus, old macdonald etc about 10 times each a day it seems! My kids hear all kinds of songs, and we read counting books alot too. Even though the little ones are not old enough (and are not required) to sit still for songs and story time, I knlow that they hear it and are slowly grasping and memorizing songs, letters, numbers etc.

[fruitloop]

I also have 18 month olds that can talk quite well, so are very much capable of communicating to some extent with this. I also want to add that I'm not doing this for hours on end...this takes about 20 minutes at most so it's not like the whole day is like this...20 minutes is not a lot of time at all. With all my older kids gone, my routine works just fine, it's just changed a bit to accommodate the age group. I'm their example of what they're suppose to do just like I was the example of the older ones when they first started. Of course i'm not asking a 12, 15, or 18 month old to remember a colour, shape or number nor am I asking them to point it out. Right now they are learning to participate in a group activity and learn to sit for a short period of time. it's all a learning process for them like any thing else.