3 Year Old - Circle Time Help - Update

So my 3 year old hasn't been participating at circle time at daycare. We got a note home yesterday from his teacher (who just started on Monday) and I reached out to his former teacher who confirmed it's been that way for awhile (unbeknownst to me).

Anyway - does anyone have any suggestions as to how to get him to participate? He just turned 3 and is very stubborn (on top of being 3)...

Thanks!

Update - it seems he just needed to grow up a little bit and have more structure. He is now an active participant at circle time and is doing great. There had been a lot of turnover in his class and there wasn't a set curriculum - now one has been implemented and it's working well for him.

Message edited 9/25/2015 12:57:55 PM.

Re: 3 Year Old - Circle Time Help

That's a rough one. You aren't there with him when circle time is going on so all you could do is encourage him. At that age lots of kids are distracted at circle time. It's really the teachers job to keep the kids engaged.

I would write back to the teacher and see if she could try to give him a special job at circle time, or choose an activity, book that interests him. Maybe let him bring in a book from home to let the teacher read. Maybe if his school allows it a reward system for participating in circle time. You may also include some type of reward for him at home.

3 Year Old - Circle Time Help

Depends.. what is he doing?

AJ did not participate in circle time until 4. She would go off and do her own thing quietly. At 18m I realize she didn't 'fit' in with the others on simple silly stuff, she wanted more. So I moved her to a Montessori type school. They allowed her freedom to do her own thing while encouraging circle time. At 3, she was set on doing her own thing. She'd do the morning song then move to her desk, pull out a project and quietly work.

Circle time was wasteful to her. She'd listen in but do her own thing. I never once was concerned. She just doesn't care to be bored or dragged down by others.

By 4yrs when the kids were more leveled she would participate but had to sit next to the teacher. She had no patience for those not listening to or following the teacher.

I pulled her out and put her in public school for kinder. It was a little struggle since she was forced to keep pace with those who didn't know how to count to 100 or alphabet. But I sent her to school with mazes to challenge her and talked to her teacher about pushing her harder.

1st grade she became the 'pacer' meaning she was slow to finish her work because she is now a perfectionist. Still has no tolerance for jobs done halfassed. I have had two conferences about it. I simply say her attention to detail and her demand to be taught and for you to follow the same rules you request is evidence of her paying attention to the teacher and the subject.

3yrs old is still a wild age. I think forcing them to do something they don't want will only breed dislike for it. As long as he's respectful, I believe they will come to the circle when its best for them.

Just my $0.02

3 Year Old - Circle Time Help

Thanks.

He supposedly is just quietly playing away from the group. The old teacher encouraged him to participate - and if he didn't want to, they had him hold a toy and sit on the other teacher's lap...

He is bright and is learning - he doesn't miss a thing - but, he's also 3 and extremely thick and difficult (thank goodness he's cute).

Unfortunately - the whole reward chart thing doesn't work for him - it worked for my older one...

My first son would always participate - he is a big rule follower - if a teacher says it - he will do it (even if he doesn't want to).

3 Year Old - Circle Time Help

Ali, I am sorry you are going thru this. I have twins 3 1/2 & we also have had this problem. My boys were in school from Sept-Dec 2014 & we were told to have him evaluated. According to my sons eval report they said part of it was social, I had no idea since I didn't know really there was a problem. We are now in school that is SUPER STRUCTURED and teaching him the proper things. I would really suggest doing the same. Get an eval & tell school disct these concerns.

My son also bright & scored very high on his psych but sometimes they still need help. My son has no diagnosis & is fine. Just needs help in these areas. While sitting, he LOVES having a sensory blanket.

Message edited 4/15/2015 2:08:30 PM.

3 Year Old - Circle Time Help

I've been having a similar issue with my son. However, when I spoke to child psychologists and CPSE about it they all told me at 3 they are not expected to sit for circle time for more than a couple of minutes. I would ask the teacher how long circle time is and what types of activities are involved. Is there any physical component to help them shake out the sillies? When I asked these questions I found out circle time was 15 minutes long (this was when he was 2 1/2) and there was no physical aspect to it. They sat in a circle, talked about the day of the week, the weather, read a story, etc. IMO that is a lot to expect out of an active child at that age when they are sitting in a room full of distractions. The bottom line is you aren't there to do anything about it. You can talk about it at home and say it's important to listen to the teacher, etc. But I think so long as he isn't disrupting the other children then it's not a big problem. He's still so young.

3 Year Old - Circle Time Help

In my son's case & I have twins, there are 10 kids in the class. My son seems to be the only one who won't sit. If the others can, I think could be start of something. We did the evaluation & glad he is learning. He will be 4yr in Oct.

3 Year Old - Circle Time Help

Thank you all for your input. I appreciate it.