Make circle time more comfortable and manageable by giving young children clear, developmentally appropriate choices for how they sit!
These Real Photo Sitting Choices help preschool and Pre-K children learn that there is more than one way to sit successfully during circle time. Instead of expecting every child to maintain the exact same sitting position, teachers can use the photographs and choice boards to teach children how to choose a position that feels comfortable while keeping their bodies in their own space and ready to participate.
Perfect for circle time, carpet time, morning meeting, story time, and other whole-group activities.
This resource includes:
- Real photographs of developmentally appropriate sitting choices
- Multiple visual sizes for displays, choice boards, and individual support
- Ready-to-use Sitting Choices boards
- English and Spanish student visuals
Sitting Choices: What Students Do
Children learn several appropriate ways they can position their bodies during group time. They practice the different sitting choices, notice which positions feel comfortable for their bodies, and learn how to choose a position while respecting the space of the children around them.
What You Get
This resource includes real-photo visuals for sitting choices such as:
- Knee Sit
- Legs Out
- Mermaid Sit
- Mountain Sit
- Pirate Sit
- Pretzel Sit
- Cube Chair
- Chair Sit
Multiple printable formats make it easy to use the visuals throughout your classroom, including full-page posters, half-page visuals, small choice cards, individual visual supports, and single-page Sitting Choices boards.
English and Spanish student-facing visual options are included.
You’ll also receive teacher support materials explaining how to introduce sitting choices, establish simple boundaries, and use the visuals during circle time.
Why Teachers Love Sitting Choices
Young children do not all have the same bodies, comfort levels, balance, or sitting preferences. Offering several appropriate choices gives children some control over their bodies while still maintaining clear classroom expectations.
Instead of repeatedly reminding children to “fix” the way they’re sitting, teachers can refer children to a consistent visual and simply prompt them to choose a sitting position that works for their body.
The result is a circle time routine that emphasizes comfort, independence, participation, and personal space rather than one required sitting position.
Kids Are Learning To
- Recognize different appropriate sitting positions
- Make simple choices based on their own needs
- Develop body awareness
- Respect personal space
- Follow visual classroom routines
- Participate more independently during group activities
How Teachers Use This Resource
Introduce the sitting choices at the beginning of the school year or anytime your circle time routine needs a reset.
Model several choices and allow children to practice them. Display the Sitting Choices board near your circle time area so children can refer to it independently.
Use the smaller cards to offer an individual child two or three choices when the full selection feels overwhelming, or display only the options that are available in your classroom.
The visuals can also be used during morning meeting, story time, music and movement, small groups, and other activities where children gather together.
Give your preschoolers choices without giving up clear expectations. These real-photo circle time visuals make sitting choices easy for young children to understand and easy for teachers to implement.
Add this resource to your classroom management toolkit and create a circle time routine that recognizes that different bodies may need different ways to sit and learn.
