Originally Posted by Heidi:
They are building the barricades to mark their space?
WHy not try the Montessori thing...
Use carpet squares or small, inexpensive throw rugs. Stack in a corner or roll up and put in baskets.
Each child can grab a rug and make that "their space".
They need to learn 3 questions:
1. May I play with you? (answer yes or no...if no....)
2. Then may I watch you? (answer yes or no...if no...)
3. Then can you please let me know when you are done with that.. (of course...yes)
It helps with the territory thing, it' real world applicable (office desk, for instance), and it keeps the mess down because each person is responsible to put things back before the next thing. You could even personalize the mats so that each child has one.
You'd almost need an assistant of some sort to teach everyone this at the same time. In Montessori, they have a mixed age group, and the older ones help "train" the younger ones.
I am not Montessori trained...just remember it from my son's class 20 years ago
LOVE THIS!! Thanks!! we already do 1. and 3. so this shouldn't be too hard and they are all ages 3-5.
