Circle time ideas for toddlers?

Question

I am a teacher in a toddler nursery class, and next week my theme is "All About Me" however I am stumped for a cooperative activity I can do with the children at circle time! Any ideas?

Answer 1

hope these few ideas help you.:

1. have them brings in something of their own, this is known as a "show and tell". they then stand up or sit , which ever, facing the rest of the class and they tell everyone what they brought in and what does it mean to them.

2. to get them all to listen to each other have and object like a toy or a ball or something and make it a rule that only the person with the object is allowed to speak and everyone else has to pay attention. this gives the whole class a better opportunity to here what everyone has to say and the person speaking gets a chance to say what they need to without you (the teacher), yelling at everyone else.

3. at the start of the session have them draw a picture or cut out pieces from magazines which they like or represents something about them self. Then sit in a circle and they then can explain to the class why they choose that picture or whatever.

4.this is more of a crafty one. have them trace around their hand on a piece of white paper then they can decorate it with glitter, paper cut outs, paint ect. they using a marker have them write 5 things (on the fingers) about them selves.

5. take a photo of every child have them printed and cut them into a jigsaw puzzle. they then make the puzzle and stick it all together. this can also be done with another persons face but make sure there sitting across from each other so they can see what the other person looks like.  

Answer 2

Let them go around and say two or three things about themselves, and bring in an object to represent their favorite thing to do, like a share time. i hope i helped.

Answer 3

I would not suggest asking a toddler to say something to the group.  This is not an age-appropriate task.  Make the focus on the kids by singing songs about them and initiating poems and activities.  At that age, most of the children would rather listen or mimic you.  To the tune of Rudolp, The Red-Nosed Reindeer, you can sing, "I see, Sarah and Nancy and Kaden and Andrew, Marshal and Kendal and Max and their mothers. I am so glad they could all come to our class today. I see a lot of kids here: one is in a purple dress. I see a lot of kids here: one is wearing Batman shoes. I see a lot of kids here: one is cov'ring up his eyes. I see a lot of kids here. We can clap and sing some songs."

Sing "Sarah's wearing a red dress, red dress, red dress. Sarah's wearing a red dress to our class today."  Make sure you mention every child.  Sing "I am glad that Sarah came, Sarah came, Sarah came. I am glad that Sarah came to our toddler class," to the tune of London Bridge.  You can sing about body parts to that tune, too.  "Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes, knees and toes; head and shoulder, knees and toes, eyes, ears mouth and nose."  Have each mother place her child on her lap.  Tell each mommy to pretend to be a bumpy wagon and hold on with her hands like a little seat belt. Then sing, "Bumping up and down in Kendra's red wagon; bumping up and down in Saundra's read wagon; bumping up and down in Jason's red wagon; won't you be my darling?" That is to the tune of Skip to My Lou.  I can't give you the name of this tune, but if you make up your own, you can sing these words, "Now I jump, jump, jump, jump, jump. See me jump, jump, jump, jump, jump. I can jump, jump, jump, jump jump. This is fun, fun, fun, fun, fun!" Hange "jump" to walk, crawl, or any simple large-motor skill the kids can easily do while traveling in a circle. Don't say "run!"  Kids that age LOVE active songs that they can do. SIng as many as you can with action words, colors and the names of the kids. In so doing, you are subtly teaching colors, body parts and language while focusing on a toddler's favorite subject: himself!  I think the kids will have lots of fun if you do some of those songs (or all of them).

Answer 4

Ask them to tell you and the other circle members the one thing that they think makes them special.Have them then go around and point out something special about someone else as well. Then they can focus the entire week on being kind and realizing that everyone is special in some way or another. Don't YOU forget to share as well  

Answer 5

Sing the song "head, shoulders, knees and toes"

Answer 6

Do a "We Will We Will rock you!" Thing with lap,lap, clap and go around the circle having everyone Say

Hi my name is _______

My favorite color's ________

My favorite thing to do is _______

then let them yell

"BEAT THAT" or "NEXT" to go onto the next person.