Do you call it circle time or something else?

Do you sit in a circle - and when you sit on what?
We have sat in chairs, carpet squares, place mats, laminate construction paper with names on them)

What do you do in your circle time and for how long...do you meet more than once for a circle time?
I personally feel so many try to squeeze to much into one circle time ...and become frustrated when this time dont work.

We make a circle (song) when they hear that they come running to join in

We discuss what we did the night before - everyone gets a turn

We then do what I call Cheers - (right / left brain transitioning)
Clap your hands (say 3 times and we clap)
Cross your arms again 3 times
roll your hands ...

I just go through a list .. I sometimes add more depending on how they are doing

We read a story

then we go into name recognition
I make different cards for each month out of decorative paper I get from the local teacher supply store
So when a child sees his name ..
he gets up goes to the middle of the circle this is his time to dance or hop

We sing a song to the tune of sally has a blue dress .. I cant think of the song

But the child who seen his name gets to pick what we sing about
so we sing like this

child's name has new shoes new shoes new shoes
child's name has new shoes new shoes childs name has new shoes new shoes
child's name has new shoes new on today

We then are done .. we have more than once circle time

our next circle time is as we are setting up for lunch .. we go potty and go to the table and sit .. while we are waiting for lunch we listen to a story .... we then sing

Open shut them
open shut them
clap clap clap
open shut them open shut them
place them in your lap lap lap

then our plates are placed in front of us and our hands stay in our lap .. we discuss what we are having ..what food group it is from.

My circle time is really our singing and exercise time.

We sing *If you are Happy and You know It...

The diff is that I may say...

Turn your head
Look down
Raise your hands (real high)
Bend your knees
Touch your toesies

Then we sing *Hokey Pokey

We follow this up with Show and Know!
Here I show a card and go around the circle and have one person at a time name what they see on the card. I show the letters (capitals & lowercase), numbers and simple pictures.

Then we pick one person to be the Mini Me. This is the person who picks the clothes to dress Weather bear (a basic teddy bear that has clothes, coats and accessories based on weather). This person also changes the calendar and leads us in the days of the week song.

From their, we move to the table for our project time. All of this is done in the morning before my son and my 1st client leaves for school. My 1st grader is seriously delayed and is still learning much of these things, so it helps to include her.

On days when the two who stay with me all day cannot go outside, I have a scavenger hunt and they have to "find" the all about me stuff. I hide stuff like a card with their favorite color on it, a picture of their favorite snack and even a card with their name on it. It's a lot of fun...

When any child first comes to my home for the interview, I have them draw on a piece of construction paper. If their parents decide that the child will be coming to me, I take it to the local Parent/Teachers store and have it laminated. This becomes their placemat. When they sit at the table, they sit at their placemat. If for some reason they cannot draw on the mat, I have the kids already in care make it for them. Either way, they quickly learn that this is "their" mat. After they have been with me one year, I take their picture and have them make a NEW mat.

How old are your youngest ones .. and do you leave weather bear out>>>> and do they leave him alone if you do?

Yes I like your circle time because too often we think the kids should sit still .. not move and listen ........... then we become frustrated ..thats why my circle time is about movement ..
It has been proven when you do left / right brain exercises a child becomes more focused .. EVEN a child with other things going on (adhd, autistic etc)
You can read more about these on Dr. Becky Baileys web site
I feel when I do those types of exercised the whole day is calmer! .......ohhhhhhhhh and if we get roudy i just start chanting clap your hands clap clap clap...clap your hands ..clap clap clap and go into the next .. funny yesterday they went to the table directly when I started and sat down in their own spots (I have laminated Christmas trees w/ names on them at the table) and they joined in... the room instantly became calmer - I have 2 new children and routines are being broken all week! (thus why I am soo darn tired)

My 3 clients are 7, 4, and 3. Add my son who is almost 6 and you can see that I have my hands full. I just let my "helper" go because she was NO help. She came in and sat on her hinny, ate my food and did NOTHING with the kids. HELLO!!! What are you here for?

So, I have to stick to the routine and I do 2 circle times. A very brief one and a longer one in the afternoon.

I was wondering...do you accept special need children. For example, if a child needs therapies and the providers will come in, how do you work with such a child, if you accept them. I do accept them, but have not had one to date.

I have and will accept IF I feel I can truly work with the family and the child.

I just had a little one with downs ... she was one stinker!
her therapist came to the house during nap time .. I had them meet in my living room so the other children's naps were not messed up and the noise did not distract her.

I have 2 that have speech now. Both meet at the local grade school so it does not interfere with me at this time. ... the one I feel will need more ..mom is having his hearing tested ... and I have begged for this for 2 years now.

I also had an autistic child in my home - his mom is my best friend! Hes the only man who ever remembered my birthday ...even if he tells me 101 times in one day ..today is your birthday .. you are born on the same day as Elvis - yes 101 times~
God Love him he is a special little man in my life!

It's funny...those of us who accept special needs children understand how they can stressfully enrich our lives!

Thanks for being so sweet. My son has similar issues in reminding me of special days and telling me 1001 times leading up to said day. For example, my birthday is in March, but he starts saying Happy Birthday in January!!!

Have a great weekend.

...you asked about leaving Weather Bear out...

I actually do leave him out and he is treated like one of the clients. He has an assigned seat and because he is a "special" child, he must not be touched too many times because it makes him feel bad. This is how I introduce understanding the feelings of others, especially kiddos with special needs like my son.

It really helps and at the same time I teach them to not take things that are not theirs. Once in awhile when the weather changes mid-day, I have my Mini Me change the clothes of the bear to fit the current weather...

Great idea!!

Do you have pictures of this bear? I have seen flannel boards etc done like this but am getting a picture in my mind of a stuffed animal.

I have used a "tattle bear" similar to this .. anytime the kids want to tattle i say go tell tattle bear ... its funny to listen to them go tell the bear so n so pushed me or took my toys and i don't like that .......... and how the other kids seem to "hear" the other childs feelings more clearly!

Our circle time is in the morning right after snack. It includes the day of the week, month of the year, and counting the days. This is all through song an movement. We do the weather chart that goes with a song and then we talk about our feelings and how we feel - this also leads into what the children did the evening before. We sing the alphabet while playing instruments and then talk about our letter of the week - we have a poem and a song that goes along with each letter. We do our colors and shapes and finish with a story or two that goes along with our weekly theme. We finish up with an art activity or cooking.

Great ideas Tami thanks for sharing!!

I am sorry about the delay in reply. Actually, it is just a bear that my daughter made at Build a Bear. I picked up all the clothes as they would go on sale and of course I have the shoes, hats, coats, etc.

I don't have a picture right now, but if I get the chance...I will take one of him and post him. My older client thinks Weather Bear is a silly name and we are considering a new name for him...eventhought this has been his name for more than 8 years! Kids...you've got to love their minds! :8

Take care and Merry...Happy

I kinda like the name weather bear ..

Neat idea .. I have to go to St. L to get to a build a bear place .. I am glad this works for you ...

I have seen window clings and laminate bulletin board sets ..

I actually had thought of making file folder games for the kids to dress so we can discuss why we should or shouldn't dress a certain way ..........oh brother you should see how some of mine are coming in lately!

I had tank tops one day

sandals the day it snowed ---

Yes this is all because a teacher said let them decide!
Umm within reason I agree but sandals in the snow - no way!

The kids I currently care for are from Florida and they are not used to this weather. I TOTALLY get the problem with dressing. They never have on socks and the one that goes to school has come in with no coat SEVERAL times. I finally said that if they did not provide proper clothing... I would have no choice but all Division of Family Services! (Mind you, I had no plans to do this, but under the circumstances, what else was I supposed to do...these kids stay sick because they are not properly dressed for the weather!)

Monday was the straw that broke MY back. All three of them came in here without baths, combed hair and sick from playing out in the snow without coats, so I told the dad to take them back home and that I could not accept them until he could provide a note from a doctor giving them a clean bill of health and him providing clothing to be left here for dressing the children properly based on weather since he has not consistently done so prior to gettting here.

Alas...my holiday break as started early and I will be looking for new clients in January.

Take care and have an AWESOME vacation...:8

New clients must be keeping u busy ..havent seen ya on in awhile!
Where are you??