Any One Do 2 Circle Times?

[newtodaycare22]

Does anyone do 2 different circle times for 2 age groups? I have four kids that are at the same level (all 4 or about to be 4 years old). They can sit for 15-20 minutes, do story time, they already know their letters/sounds, they are learning sight words, etc. Then, starting next week, I'll have two 2 year olds. Less of an attention span (obviously), but they do know some things like colors and letters.

I'm thinking about doing 2 different circle times, so that each of them get an organized time with me but I don't have to kill myself attempting to get 2 year olds to focus (as they shouldn't BE at the same level of the 4 year olds).

Anybody done anything similar? Should I put up the baby gates to keep 2 year olds from wandering into the other room while I'm working with the older ones? Also....younger first or older first? (We do it right before a transition to snack).

Thanks for any ideas!

[Sunshine44]

No, I haven't done that...but seems doable. I am thinking of doing two different circle times because I have one dcb who comes later than everyone else. The others seem to do really well during the time I have it scheduled, so I don't really want to change theirs, but I hate the fact that this little boy is missing it.

[Hunni Bee]

Originally Posted by newtodaycare22

Does anyone do 2 different circle times for 2 age groups? I have four kids that are at the same level (all 4 or about to be 4 years old). They can sit for 15-20 minutes, do story time, they already know their letters/sounds, they are learning sight words, etc. Then, starting next week, I'll have two 2 year olds. Less of an attention span (obviously), but they do know some things like colors and letters.

I'm thinking about doing 2 different circle times, so that each of them get an organized time with me but I don't have to kill myself attempting to get 2 year olds to focus (as they shouldn't BE at the same level of the 4 year olds).

Anybody done anything similar? Should I put up the baby gates to keep 2 year olds from wandering into the other room while I'm working with the older ones? Also....younger first or older first? (We do it right before a transition to snack).

Thanks for any ideas!

Yes, I've done this when my class grew past 12 kids. I didn't really separate it by age, because I wanted my littles to get the benefit of the older ones being in there....but I have done that (separate by age) before.

I'd do the littles first, because they'll have a hard time not interrupting you and the bigs while waiting for their turn. And yeah, I'd put up the gates and maybe have some special toys that they only get to play with while waiting for you to finish the big kids' circle time.

[Cat Herder]

Yes.

Some days I even do more because they are less active (cold season)...

...then some days when the natives are restless, I skip it altogether in preference of more physical activites.

I do my infants activities seperate from my toddlers, but also sit them close by during the big kids activities so they can join in when they are ready...not based on age.

In reality I have a 2 year old who needs to switch groups with the 8 month old for behavior and attention span....

They are such individuals.