Every year I hear questions from teachers about circle time. Gathering the whole class together and interacting with one another can generate a lot of concern or challenge for teachers. Some repeated questions relate to just sitting down: How should children sit? Does it matter? Where do they sit? Let’s talk about it.
Sit Criss-Cross or Not in Circle Time
My kids won’t sit down during circle time, they’re always up on their knees- which blocks the view of other students. Should I have them sit criss-cross? Traditional thinking was that kids were listening when they were sitting cross-legged on the carpet with their hands in their laps, but research has dispelled this myth. I invite you to say goodbye to that outdated method and embrace what the research shows:
- Neural pathways are strengthened through movement.
- Not all young children are comfortable sitting criss-cross. (How can they listen if they are uncomfortable?)
- Young children naturally have short attention spans, usually no more than 1-2 minutes per year of age. (Do we want them focusing attention on sitting position or on what we are doing?)
If you’re tired of correcting and redirecting how your little learners sit during circle time, invite them to make choices that are most comfortable to them using fun choices like Mountain, Mermaid, and Pirate sitting positions. They’ll be a huge hit in your classroom! Use this free download to show kids what their sitting options are: Sitting Choices
Assigned Seating or Not in Circle Time
I offer free choice in seating. Offering choices whenever possible keeps preschoolers engaged. If there are problems with disturbing others I say, “You can sit anywhere you want as long as you don’t bother your neighbors.” If they DO bother others, then the choice of where they sit becomes mine. Of course, if they demonstrate self-control in their new spot, then they can earn back the right to choose their own spot.
Sitting Still in Circle Time
Of course no child will sit perfectly still during circle time. (Adults won’t do this either.) But if a child is extremely wiggly during circle time, this behavior is telling you that they have reached the limit of their attention span. If this is the case, then your response should be to stop and get them up and moving with a song or fingerplay or transition to the next activity. During your circle time, make sure to balance active and passive activities. When children sit and listen to you (or another child) talk, they are passive participants. When they are engaged and moving, they are active. Too much passive activity drains the ability to pay attention and leads to wiggling.
More Preschool Circle Time Tips
Check out these links for more circle time answers.
What do I include for a successful circle time? A Preschool Circle Time That Really Works
What resources or props do I need for circle time? The Best Circle Time Props for Preschool
Where can I find the resources I need? Pre-K Pages Circle Time Essentials (Amazon)
What about calendar in circle time? Calendar Time and Preschoolers
What are some songs for circle time? Best Songs for Circle Time
