Teachers - How can I get young children to mind in class?

Question

I teach Children's Church at our church and we meet for an hour and do lots of activities such as sing songs, have prayer, eat snacks, have a Bible lesson, do crafts and sometimes play games. Our age group is 4 years to 4th grade. I would like some tips on getting the 4 year olds to mind. I realize that they are not in school and they have not learned to sit down and listen etc. But, I am trying to get them to mind me by doing what I ask and sometimes it is hard. Some of the 4 year olds act very well a few others do not. For instance, one little girl likes to get up and run around. When I tell her to come sit down she won't. She might go hide. I tell her she needs to come sit down if she wants to be out here with the big kids in Children's Church - no luck. I have a problem with the younger children wanting to bother the older children when they are trying to listen. What can I do to get these young children to obey me. It's like what I say goes in one ear and out the other. HELP!

Answer 1

Is it possible to get the older kids to help you. Like when the younger children come over to bother them they can tell them that that's not the way we do things here. "We need to work with each other, not annoy each other."

You need to teach the children about cooperation first.

You could get the assistant to take some of the older or younger children while you work with the other age group.

It is possible that some of the younger students are having a problem with the transition from the Nursery program to the Children's church program.

Talk to the parents about how to get their child to listen and work in the program.

Does the nursery program have any group activities. If so you may be able to use some of these to begin with so that the children feel more comfortable. Then you can build on to these activities as the children get more used to the program.

You could also use a buddy system where you put an older child with a younger child to look after them and help them.

There may also be some children who aren't ready for the Children's church program yet. You could talk to the nursery teacher and the child's parents about whether they are.

Answer 2

Been there and done that, totally know your pain! Try using what we call the "hot seat" . It should be a seat, set apart from the group, say, in a corner, and when a child does not listen sit them there for the amount of minutes as they are in years. For instance, if he is 4, it would be 4 minutes, facing away from all the fun, by the way. If he is 6, 6 minutes, and so on. This works! IT does take determination, though. They don't want to listen and sit still there, either, until they learn to respect your authority and that chair. My child has the fear of God in her now when I mention hot seat. Even her teacher at pre-K uses it. Just hang in there, show them you are serious, and it should work. I will be praying for you. These days, children are growing up in such perilous times, and there is such evil all about us, we- as a child of God- really have our work cut out.

Answer 3

You need more volunteer workers so you can split the groups up more.  If a child is moving around a lot, it's a sign of needing more movement.  It should be focused and purposeful movement, but movement is needed.

You're also approaching it a little differently than I would think.  Remember Jesus' ministry is one of service.  We aren't to be obeyed as authority figures, we're servants to the child so the child can develop.  You see the need for this child to do other activities than what is being provided.  So figure out what those needs are and help the child learn to do them :)

Matt

Answer 4

Take a ruler and hit them in the knuckles.  Trust me, it will work or let their parents sit in one day.

Answer 5

Four year olds do run around; it's the way that they are made. It seems that you have a very wide age range & that's part of the problem.  Can you rope in an assistant to perhaps take the older ones, so there is less of a distraction for the little guys?   It is also possible that these kids do not know what "minding" is; you may wish to ask their parents for tips on how to get them to listen.

Personally, I'd probably set up an environment for the younger ones in which they had a good deal of freedom to play & make things, with a VERY short time for group activities, such as singing (most kids like to sing, & learn well that way too) & perhaps a flannelboard story time. Or puppets. Or open ended crafts.

If they WON'T sit down, & if they MUST, make good on your threat -- er, your promise -- that they can't be with the "big Kids". (Maybe they don't want to be there. ) Best wishes.

Answer 6

You have alot of great answers already. A reward system will definitely help you a bit. Just something as simple as a sticker can make them want to be good so they can show mommy and daddy their sticker.

Have you tried placing the younger children in the very front? Maybe if you sit in the floor in a circle and have everyone cross their legs(we call this criss-cross applesauce) with the younger ones right up front. Have your helper monitor the children while you go on with the lesson. If one is acting up allow the helper to take him'her away from the group for a short time and return. You could also try having the usualy misbehaved ones sit right beside you and when you see them wiggling, try to redirect their attention to the story/craft or whatever.

Good luck!!

Answer 7

When you talk to the younger kids, make sure you kneel down and get on their level.  If they're really being a problem, get in their face, they'll hate having to look you eye to eye.

If you can get the older kids to influence them, it'd work well.  All little kids want to be big kids.

Perhaps give the younger kids something to do while they are supposed to be sitting still.  Color or something.

Answer 8

try having a big kid buddy up with a younger kid...kids tend to want to follow older one's lead...good luck!

Answer 9

take them on a scavenger hunt or something ,games.

Answer 10

YOU NEED TO GO TALK TO THE KIDS IN THE SILENCE PLACE BECAUSE IF OU SAY SOMETHING TO THEM WHEN OTHER KIDS ARE AROUND THEY ARE SHIAY

Answer 11

First you need to make sure all the kids are aware of your expectations for behaviour. Have a discussion with them - you'll probably find they will be able to tell you what is OK and not OK behaviour! Then you need to keep reminding them :) One of the teachers where I work has a simple poster on the blackboard - ears listening, eyes front, mouth shut and hands on knees - and she starts with a reminder every time she has to talk to the class for more than a few minutes.

A simple rhyme or fingerplay can be a good way to bring a class back on task if they are starting to drift, especially one like 'Open and shut them' which ends with the kids in a listening pose - you could have them touch eyes, ears and mouth as a reminder to look, listen and be quiet, ending with 'lay them on your lap'

With many kids, stickers on a chart or other rewards can help - this doesn't work for every child, but you can pull a sad face and say 'oh, ---- doesn't want a sticker today.'

My best weapon is the ominous countdown - I don't know what happens when we reach zero but most of the kids don't seem to want to find out!

The most important thing is to be consistent.