Daycare.com Forum
Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Four year olds
My3cents 10:10 AM 04-23-2014
Ideas for four year old's to keep them engaged for more then two minutes of time?
What do you do to combat the question of .........Whats next? What do we do now?
I need some ideas.
Favorite activities
Favorite games
your go to for boredom busters
Hoping for some good feedback on this. Thank you-
What do you do to combat the question of .........Whats next? What do we do now?
I need some ideas.
Favorite activities
Favorite games
your go to for boredom busters
Hoping for some good feedback on this. Thank you-
Country Kids 10:19 AM 04-23-2014
I have a visual schedule hanging so they can look on it to see what we do next.
Keep them busy with curriculum/outdoor time/games/free play/story time.
My group right now do much better with me having them busy with stuff constantly. I notice there to be boredom, fighting, and stress levels going up during time where they are free playing.
We can stay busy, busy, busy all day long!
Keep them busy with curriculum/outdoor time/games/free play/story time.
My group right now do much better with me having them busy with stuff constantly. I notice there to be boredom, fighting, and stress levels going up during time where they are free playing.
We can stay busy, busy, busy all day long!
cheerfuldom 11:13 AM 04-23-2014
outside time! and besides that, no special accommodations. short responses to complaints and whining with the general idea being "go play".
nothingwithoutjoy 11:20 AM 04-23-2014
Originally Posted by My3cents:
Ideas for four year old's to keep them engaged for more then two minutes of time?
What do you do to combat the question of .........Whats next? What do we do now?
I need some ideas.
Favorite activities
Favorite games
your go to for boredom busters
Hoping for some good feedback on this. Thank you-
If they're asking "what's next," "what do we do now?," it's because they're used to having adults think it up for them. Rather than try to think of more activities to answer them, I'd set up open-ended materials in inviting ways and see what they come up with on their own.Ideas for four year old's to keep them engaged for more then two minutes of time?
What do you do to combat the question of .........Whats next? What do we do now?
I need some ideas.
Favorite activities
Favorite games
your go to for boredom busters
Hoping for some good feedback on this. Thank you-
The faves of my fours:
--open-ended art materials (various papers, drawing tools, scissors, tapes, stapler, paints, clay, recyclables, etc.)
--dress-up materials (scarves, fabric, accessories)
--blocks
--mud kitchen
LeslieG 11:45 AM 04-23-2014
Originally Posted by cheerfuldom:
outside time! and besides that, no special accommodations. short responses to complaints and whining with the general idea being "go play".
outside time! and besides that, no special accommodations. short responses to complaints and whining with the general idea being "go play".
YES!! Same here!
Bookworm 04:17 PM 04-23-2014
Originally Posted by nothingwithoutjoy:
If they're asking "what's next," "what do we do now?," it's because they're used to having adults think it up for them. Rather than try to think of more activities to answer them, I'd set up open-ended materials in inviting ways and see what they come up with on their own.
The faves of my fours:
--open-ended art materials (various papers, drawing tools, scissors, tapes, stapler, paints, clay, recyclables, etc.)
--dress-up materials (scarves, fabric, accessories)
--blocks
--mud kitchen
I do this too. I try to rotate toys every month. Some of our favorite activities are: balloon tennis, wobbly eggs (push a plastic egg to the finish line using only your nose), nose dive(put Vaseline on your nose, place cotton balls one at a time and shake them off with no hands)' and junk in the trunk (be the first to empty a tissue box of ping pong balls that's wrapped around your waist). Goggle Minute to Win It for more cool games.If they're asking "what's next," "what do we do now?," it's because they're used to having adults think it up for them. Rather than try to think of more activities to answer them, I'd set up open-ended materials in inviting ways and see what they come up with on their own.
The faves of my fours:
--open-ended art materials (various papers, drawing tools, scissors, tapes, stapler, paints, clay, recyclables, etc.)
--dress-up materials (scarves, fabric, accessories)
--blocks
--mud kitchen
EntropyControlSpecialist 04:17 PM 04-23-2014
Originally Posted by nothingwithoutjoy:
If they're asking "what's next," "what do we do now?," it's because they're used to having adults think it up for them. Rather than try to think of more activities to answer them, I'd set up open-ended materials in inviting ways and see what they come up with on their own.
The faves of my fours:
--open-ended art materials (various papers, drawing tools, scissors, tapes, stapler, paints, clay, recyclables, etc.)
--dress-up materials (scarves, fabric, accessories)
--blocks
--mud kitchen
Bingo. During free play I offer different playing centers and then it is THEIR job to figure out what is next. My 4's can easily do this with space. My 2's may need some help.If they're asking "what's next," "what do we do now?," it's because they're used to having adults think it up for them. Rather than try to think of more activities to answer them, I'd set up open-ended materials in inviting ways and see what they come up with on their own.
The faves of my fours:
--open-ended art materials (various papers, drawing tools, scissors, tapes, stapler, paints, clay, recyclables, etc.)
--dress-up materials (scarves, fabric, accessories)
--blocks
--mud kitchen
Oh, and some just play awful together so they don't play in the same group.
Laurel 05:58 PM 04-23-2014
Originally Posted by nothingwithoutjoy:
If they're asking "what's next," "what do we do now?," it's because they're used to having adults think it up for them. Rather than try to think of more activities to answer them, I'd set up open-ended materials in inviting ways and see what they come up with on their own.
The faves of my fours:
--open-ended art materials (various papers, drawing tools, scissors, tapes, stapler, paints, clay, recyclables, etc.)
--dress-up materials (scarves, fabric, accessories)
--blocks
--mud kitchen
If they're asking "what's next," "what do we do now?," it's because they're used to having adults think it up for them. Rather than try to think of more activities to answer them, I'd set up open-ended materials in inviting ways and see what they come up with on their own.
The faves of my fours:
--open-ended art materials (various papers, drawing tools, scissors, tapes, stapler, paints, clay, recyclables, etc.)
--dress-up materials (scarves, fabric, accessories)
--blocks
--mud kitchen
Also, play dough. That is good for a half hour or more here. Board games if there are two old enough and they can handle it...like Candy Land or Memory, etc.
I've also put a big quilt or blanket over my dining room table and let them play under it. Give them flashlights and let them think of things to take in.
Tell them you are playing hide and go seek and start counting. Then never go find them.
Couldn't resist as it just popped into my head.Oh but 'Easter egg hunts' are popular year round. If you have two they can play it with each other. It doesn't have to be plastic eggs. I've rolled up aluminum foil balls or used blocks to hide.
A simple sewing or lacing project.
Laurel
misslori50 06:02 AM 04-24-2014
we don't have a whats next. The only scheduled things we have are meals and naps. i just let them play. If I see the need a little direction Ill say how about playdough or sand? I let them direct their play this takes away "Whats next?" I keep the guessing somedays we might paint or make a craft but there is no "whats next"
Laurel 09:45 AM 04-24-2014
Originally Posted by roym:
Take them out to play in a park or somewhere. The kids enjoy themselves thoroughly in the outside environment.
Definitely. When I have a bit older group (all 2's, 3's and up), I take them to the park every single day. With an infant it might be harder though. If I have an infant that I can put in the stroller then we at least go for a long walk if we don't go to the park. We eat breakfast, leave and come home in time for lunch. Makes them sleep good too!Take them out to play in a park or somewhere. The kids enjoy themselves thoroughly in the outside environment.
Laurel
Laurel 09:49 AM 04-24-2014
Originally Posted by misslori50:
we don't have a whats next. The only scheduled things we have are meals and naps. i just let them play. If I see the need a little direction Ill say how about playdough or sand? I let them direct their play this takes away "Whats next?" I keep the guessing somedays we might paint or make a craft but there is no "whats next"
That is what I do also. The only thing we do at approximately the same time every day is eat breakfast, nap, lunch and snack.we don't have a whats next. The only scheduled things we have are meals and naps. i just let them play. If I see the need a little direction Ill say how about playdough or sand? I let them direct their play this takes away "Whats next?" I keep the guessing somedays we might paint or make a craft but there is no "whats next"
For me, it makes it easier. If I notice they are getting antsy then I can announce something. "Let's do arts and crafts" or "Get your shoes on, we are going for a walk."
Laurel