Hoola hoops/personal space=fantastic!!!

[Dreamalittledream]

I have to thank Reggio for this fantastic idea! Hoola hoops (gotta love Yard Sales!) used as personal space boundaries. Wow, my day is suddenly soooo peaceful!!! Must buy more Hoola hoops! (The little guy on the left in the photo is my little guy)

[BlueRose]

I have been thinking about doing that. I just don't think I have enough room.

[JennJubie]

What a great idea!! I'm definitely going to have to try this!

[Artsand crafts]

I love it! Something pretty similar to what Montessori mats do.

[Dreamalittledream]

I can't tell you how nice it was to set each up with an activity (of their choosing) and not have the babies annoying the older ones by being in the middle of it, chewing & drooling on all the pieces, carrying the pieces everywhere in the playroom. When each was done it they put everything back in their activity bucket and tadaa! And the little ones got Hoola hoop time too as a reward for being so good at getting the concept so quickly!

[sunnydays]

I've been wanting to do this too...but I am more eager now that I hear it actually works! I wasn't sure how the toddlers would do with understanding the concept of not crossing the line of the hoola hoop. My daughter gets so frustrated sometimes when they come and mess up her little people or whatever she is playing with...or when one is building a tower and another comes and knocks it down. I am going to have to get some and try it!

[playfelt]

This would be a good way to set up for the start of the day to have hoops out with an activity in each and once a person is inside a hoop no one else can enter till they leave. That is the idea behind my table time in that my table seats 6 so there is an activity at each space but usually only 3-4 using them. You may move to any empty chair and activity stays where I put it.

[momofnerds]

my only concern would be that some kids then wouldn't want to play with any of the kids anymore. I know they use hula hoops for special need kids so they understand personal space.

[Artsand crafts]

my only concern would be that some kids then wouldn't want to play with any of the kids anymore. I know they use hula hoops for special need kids so they understand personal space.

I have visited several Montessori schools recently and they use the same concept, but is amat instead of hula hops. Some kids work by themselves, but others choose to do the activities as a team. Some times they move from working individually to work with a team or vice versa.... It helps them to learn to focus and concentrate in activity, something that is difficult when someone else is stealing materials or toys from them.

[playfelt]

The idea is to have spaces that children can go to when they want to play alone. There can still be activities in the room for mixing such as blocks, dolls, some of the larger fisherprice type sets.

The rule then becomes when a child is in a hoop you are not allowed to bother them. Also make it clear which shelf they may choose "hoop" toys from. Ie it can't become a place a child takes a favourite group toy and then sits and hogs it just so no one else can play with it.