Best Bear news release
“Have you 5 minutes to spare?”
by Louise Ford
Some ideas to fill in those waiting times when you need to sit with a group and capture their attention without any materials at hand
Game….”What’s Different?”
This is a game where one child goes to another part of the room with an adult or, if there is only you, stand her to one side of a trolley or screen where, unseen by the children, a hair clip is removed, or socks taken off and shoes put back on, or a jumper put on back the front….
The child then stands in the middle or front of the group for a discussion of what may be missing.
Game…”I Can See…”
With the children sitting in a circle ask questions such as “I can see someone who is wearing a cardigan which has 3 buttons…who is it?”
Game…”How Many Steps Across The Mat?”
Ask a child to walk across a designated distance, such as a mat or along a path using BIG or SMALL steps for the other children to count aloud.
If appropriate…ie, if you have enough time or another pair of hands, a list of names and numbers on an easel would provide a further discussion point
With a group of the younger children they m ay all like to do this together… in which case anything could happen but they will enjoy the idea and the activity!!
Note… some young children could find it difficult to do the larger steps.
Action Song
This song can be sung as long as the children, and you, can remember the list
“1 finger, 1 thumb keep moving
1 finger 1 thumb, keep moving
1 finger 1 thumb, keep moving,
We’ll all keep singing this song.
1 finger, 1 thumb, 1 arm keep moving……1 finger, 1 thumb, 1 arm, 1 leg keep moving…1 finger, 1 thumb, 1 arm, 1 leg, 1 nose keep moving….
Many thanks to Louise Ford for this article. For information on her childcare resource ABC Programming, please click here |