One of the biggest errors we make as teachers is trying to do too much with young children at a time. Remember a 3 year old can remember 3 things, a 4 year old, four things. Look at the stations you set up. Did you try to explain too many things at a time? Did you use too many words? Did you demonstrate or just explain? If you break your circuit up into two smaller ones, you may have more success keeping their attention and your sanity! Good Luck.

The first rule of thumb is to always say the child’s name first before you tell them what to do. They aren’t listening until you say their name. If you are not getting any response when calling their name (they are tuning you out, or find something more interesting to look at), try to change your tone of voice. Whisper, make a funny noise, Start a clapping rhythm with your hands. Ask the parent after class what they do to get their child’s attention. You can also ask the parent to talk to them before class next week by saying, “When Miss Linda calls your name, you should look at her.”

Play Add On!

Start with all of them sitting on a shape or carpet square or Velcro line. Begin teaching with one station. Call each child by name, have them come to you and do that activiy, then have them run back to their spot. After each child has gone once and they are all back sitting down, add another station. Call them again one at a time, this time they will do the first station, then the second and run back to their spot. If they are 3 years old, add a third station, if 4, add a forth. With a class of 6 three year olds, you will eventually have several all moving through the circuit, one sitting down, and one getting up at the same time. The goal is to have all children busy. Repeating this procedure the first few weeks of class will help teach them how to take a turn, follow a pattern and stay busy!