How do I get preschoolers to listen (a group of 10) without acting angry?

Question

I just started working in a day care (I've worked with other ages before) and we have a strict policy to redirect students who are misbehaving rather than correcting them. Today I had several students who would not clean up and while I was speaking to them the other students started wandering around the room. Any suggestions?!

Answer 1

When you want children to clean up there are a couple of ways you can get their co-operation. The first way is make a competition. You say I wonder who can pick up more things then me and you start quickly picking up the toys and the children will normally want to play the game. The other way is sing a song to for his a jolly good fellow tune and it goes like this Fred is a very good helper, sharon's a very good helper, shanes a very good helper and so is mark too and so is sally too James is a very good helper........... This has always worked for me.

Answer 2

Redirection is all fine and good, but there must also be some correcting of the child's behavior.  I would not work at a place that would not allow children to be disciplined.

Children should NOT be rewarded for good behavior, they should be taught that good behavior is EXPECTED and bad behavior will not be tolerated.

However, try sitting down in the circle with the children who have done as they were asked and start to sing a song with them.  You may find the other children will join you.  This has worked for me when trying to gain control of a Toddler class.

Answer 3

Make a game out of it - everyone picks up and then we will play game - or anyone who does not pick up will not get to play game.

Sing a silly song - it's time to pick up toys, it's time to pick up toys, put them away for another day, it's time to pick up toys (that's to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell).  We have a transition carpet where the children go to sit when they are finished picking up and pick up time is right before game time so we can use the - those children who do not pick up do not play game - and we stick to it.  One time sitting out of game, and they are helping their friends the next day!  good luck.

Answer 4

Get a bell and ring it when you want to get the kids' attention.  Also, believe it or not, using a whisper works wonderfully.  You get the kids to work to hear your voice.

Another thing that you can do is to flash the lights or come up with another signal that means you need the kiddos to focus.

We have a wireless doorbell plugged into the wall and carry the doorbell button in our pocket, and when we push the button, and it chimes (It is an 8 chime tome - I think it is called "Westminster) it sounds like it sings "Time to clean up, Time to clean up!"  The kids love to clean up to these methods and it turns into a game.

One other thing that I have used through the years (it depends on what works with different mixes of children) is for the kids who help clean up, they are in the Clean Up Club.  They get a sticker at the end of the day or a few chocolate chips, whatever.  Everyone wanted to be in the clean up club.

Answer 5

Rewarding good behavior is a great way - gold stars are simply magic at that age! Plus be sure to praise the good behavior - and draw attention of those who are misbehaving to those who are being good "Joe - isn't Sam doing a great job picking up?"

Answer 6

make it fun, make sure there is a prize for good behavior, such as coloring with special markers or something.

Answer 7

A lot of my students like to be told exactly what to pick up

For example:

"Jason- would you like to pick up the red blocks?"

"Vineeth- would you like to pick up the blue blocks?"

"Sara- can you help Jason and Vineeth clean up the blocks?"

Also, I am a fan of positive reenforcement - I will walk up to the child who is behaving properly and give them a sticker or

tell them that they can now sit down for snack or be the line leader

It takes time to establish a connection with students- right now they're going to be testing you out and seeing how far they can get without getting into trouble

it took me a while to not have to do most of the cleaning in my room- now, i don't help them at all- unless there are only three or less children there (parents come early sometimes) or raise my voice for them to clean up-- most of the times parents are really amazed that i don't have to scream and turn off the lights

good luck

Answer 8

Okay here is my suggestion and hopefully it would help!

Get a chart and write all their name on there.

When they helped, put a star each day

Once they have about Ex: 10 stars so far get them prizes

That is what I would do and some teachers do that and it works alot

Answer 9

Action speaks louder then words! Model the appropriate behavior: show children 'how to clean up' using the 'correct equipment' [child size sweeping brushes and pans, sponges, cloths, basins] You ask once and then you proceed to clean up, regardless of what the children are doing. It may take time to get all children to want to help. It has been my experience that parents and teachers fail to give the appropriate time for such activities, despite its benefits to the child's psychosocial and cognitive development. PS, ten preschoolers can be over whelming for the most educated of professionals when the environment is not organized appropriately. Don't hesitate to contact me.

Answer 10

don't feel bad... i've been teaching for 15 yrs and 10 kids by yourself can be hard...  this other answerer probably had at least 3 other adults to her 40 preschoolers. it's a different story when you're by yourself & i'll take 4:40 over 1:10 any day. Not that a group size of 40 is a great learning environment. My state has a group size limit of 20 and a ratio 1:10.

Answer 11

I use two things in my classroom - one is I turn the lights on and off,  this means all attention on me. The other one is a reward/consequence method - We have two jars of small manipulatives. The goal is to move them all from one to the other. As children do things as expected they move forward, if they don't follow instruction, misbehave, etc. they have to move them back. We work with a goal in mind, like and ice cream party or a field trip.

Good Luck.

Answer 12

Praise the children who are following your directions.  In an extremely calm voice say "I am so happy to see that Jacob, Rachel, and Patty are cleaning up like I asked them to."  You could also include some type of reward for good behavior (a hand stamp or a sticker.)  The misbehaving child(ren) will most likely be the first and loudest to complain that they didn't get a reward.  You can then calmly explain what they did to receive the reward and what they can do to earn it next time.  Hopefully you will have another opportunity in that same day to give them the opportunity to earn a reward.  I have taught 4K, preschool, kindergarten, and daycare.  Good Luck!

Answer 13

Most people gave the same advice I would.  Though I would warn that giving stickers should be more of a last resort thing (hey I've done it on those days where the coffee was empty haha).  The problem with giving physical rewards is that they will expect it each time.  By having them clean up you are teaching them to be autonomous and to respect the classroom.  By giving them rewards like stickers they will then only clean for the "prize" and not for themselves.  

Also I like to use the "I see <tony> cleaning up thank you <tony>" song.  Most of them want to hear their names so they start moving real fast to clean up and get you to notice.  Nothing always works so you have to test things out and see what works for your class.

Answer 14

Have them to sit down at their seats and play the game of being silent - then you can explain to them how you would want them to help you out.  Ask who wants to be the teachers helper for the day or you can say who knows how to clean up the room. Pick 2 students and have the others to sit in their seat while they watch you and your two helpers work together.  

It would be good if  you would reward the ones that will be helping you out but also the ones that are sitting in their seats like good little boys and girls. Although the rewards for the 2 helpers should be different than the ones sitting down so that it would cause them to want to be a good helper to the teacher.

Answer 15

I agree with the Love and Logic Teaching Method...do look into it!  I have found that where there is a reason to clean up...it's done much quicker.  This year I have very young children so as soon I pull out a song/activity and they see me setting it up (I'm doing family child care this time around...have to set things up when I'm ready for them instead of having it up all the time like I did in the classroom.) they are quick to respond.

Also, when I did preschool in the classroom, we stuffed a glove and attached it to a dowel.  One of the "jobs" was the 5 minute warning child.  That child was given the 5-hand, 5 minutes before clean up and they went to each center and quietly said 5 more minutes to play.  Warnings that play time is coming to an end has been very helpful for those children who have a hard time "stopping".

Answer 16

If you only have to work with 10 kids, than WOW are you luky, if you can't even get 10 kids to listen- than you need to defintely take some ECE classes at a college on child development and re-direction.

The main thing is to be strict, consistent and re-driect redirect re-direct when kids act up or they'll never listen to you.

Answer 17

I think alot of these answers are something that I would do in my classroom too.  I also have been know to put on a fast paced song and challenge the kids to beat the song.  Turn up the music nice and loud and encourage the children to clean quickly but safely.  The music doesn't have to be Barney or preschoolish, some exciting music from a football or basketball game will get them revved up too.  Just make sure the words are appropriate.  Kids like to get excited too!  And good luck.  Preschoolers can push your buttons, 10 can seem like 30.  They are really fun to work with once you get the hang of it.

Answer 18

Make a game out of it. Start clapping, stomping your feet, and sing a silly song about cleaning up! Get really into it, and start it yourself. I bet they will all be quick to follow!

Answer 19

Look into the Love and Logic teaching method.  I used to have the same problems.  Now all I have to do is walk into the room, say, "it's time to clean up and go to circle time, when the room is clean and you are sitting down we will start."  There are always a few kids  I  have to walk over to directly and remind them that their friends are cleaning up and going to circle.  I was shocked the first day I tried this method.  I said to a child who is notorious for not cleaning up her messes, "When the room is clean we can go outside."  She looked at me kinda funny, then proceeded to clean up toys she wasn't even playing with.  I was instantly converted :)  I have since then used this technique as much as possible, along with following through with things ALWAYS.  Recently I told my class that if any hitting or pushing took place outside (we've been having problems recently) we would go in and sit on our nap mats.  When a child pushed another boy, I calmly said, "Line up, we are going in because one of our friends pushed." The kids learned that I was serious, and since then have watched out for one another a lot better.  I heard one boy say to his friend the other day when prompted to play fight, "We're not supposed to fight, remember."

Answer 20

i do it 2 ways the first one is i have Barny CD with the song clean up and every time i turn the song on my children knows that its time to clean up and a lot of times to make it more fun i tell them lets see if we can finish before Barny is done singing.  

the second one is sometimes i tell the children lets see who can clean their mess first me or them if i win i will take all the stickers for my self but if they win they get them