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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Behavior Problems-Need Ideas
LVG 06:13 PM 07-14-2017
I have a group of kids that are constantly tattling, arguing, pestering and just overall not getting along well. I literally feel like it's an all day thing that never stops! I close my daycare in 7 more weeks and I just need some fresh ideas to make it through these last weeks, as I am just simply burned out! I have 1 kid in particular that is the main source of the problem (before him we were just perfect around here!) He and my own son are the same age (4) and feed off of each other. At times they all play well together, but in no time they along with the 2 girls (5) (one being my daughter) are bickering, tattling, and pestering one another. I have always kept things structured, but in the summer I let them free play a lot more. This group just can't handle it. I need some ideas on things to keep them busy...I have some "center" type things I pull out sometimes, but I have a limited supply as we are prepping to move...so they get bored with those same things over and over easily. I'm going to search pintrest of course, but I'm really looking for some simple things...not elaborate crafts and such. Also something I could include the 3 younger toddlers I have as well. I'm also trying to create some consequences for them when they can't get along. Having them sit out for a while in seperate spaces helps for the moment, but it's not curbing the overall issues. If anyone has any good ideas I would love to hear them! I'm just so tired and burned out at this point, so I feel like a fresh start to finish out our last few weeks is what I need to get through these last few weeks without pulling my hair out! Thanks for any input!
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Mummy101 09:35 AM 07-16-2017
I have had the same situation! I separate into compatible groups. I pair the kiddos with different activities. As for the tattling, I have implemented a strict no tattle policy. First one to do it instead of talking it out with either me or peer, is not aloud to continue activity. They catch on quick. Obviously however, they are able to tell me if someone is engaged in a dangerous activity without consequence.
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CalCare 10:18 AM 07-16-2017
What about a field trip? Can you take them to the library? Or just a walk around the block? That could help- a change of scenery and something to do that's not the same few items that aren't packed up. Can you do some sort of treasure hunt it exploring or scavenger hunt? That's the first thought I'm having
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LVG 07:06 PM 07-16-2017
Thanks for he input! Yes, grouping them is definitely something I need to do! We used to do centers in groups, but I have 2 toddlers that are into everything and wreak whatever they are working on. We used to be able to put things up high on the tables, but now they can climb up there too! I think they are old enough now though (20 and 21 months) that I can get them going on something to keep them busy while the others do some center type work. I do still have my paint, playdoh, and such out that we don't do often, and also lots of crafting supplies that I could make activities out of...counting beads and such...I've been scouring pintrest all day trying to find ideas on how to use what I have in different ways! I can't take them anywhere...my car doesn't hold that many kids:/. A walk may be an option...never tried to venture out with all of them. I do have a double stroller for the toddlers, but I also have another 2.5 year old...he might be able to make it around the block...may need to try going up the street first. Thanks for the input!
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tenderhearts 09:34 PM 07-17-2017
I have dealt with tatting before, for older kids I tell them to go in the bathroom and tell the mirror. For me it works they don't like to leave and have to go in the bathroom so it stopped pretty quick or they catch themselves. They know what is ok to tell me and what is not.
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daycare 09:59 PM 07-17-2017
Originally Posted by tenderhearts:
I have dealt with tatting before, for older kids I tell them to go in the bathroom and tell the mirror. For me it works they don't like to leave and have to go in the bathroom so it stopped pretty quick or they catch themselves. They know what is ok to tell me and what is not.
Love this idea. Gonna add it to my bag of tricks. Thanks for sharing this
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flying_babyb 10:10 PM 07-17-2017
the bucket! best thing ever
Throughout the week I would toss random junk in there and on Fridays the kids would get to make something out of it. Juice container fairy houses? modeling clay to make a keepsake? Popsicle stick art day? some dollar tree toys that are only out a few times a day? Water, any sort of water play

as for tattling:
We had bongo, a stuffed monkey. The kids could tell the monkey anything they wanted and about any problem they were having with friends. Bongo hung out near by wherever I was, so if it was a REAL issue, I could help. Bongo became a huge part of our classroom behavior system, the kids would get to take turns napping with bongo if they were on green. Too bad it dosent work with my 1's!
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CalCare 11:54 PM 07-17-2017
As I read this, it reminds me if a book called Tony Baloney, School Rules. If you can get it From the library, maybe your kids would be influenced a bit! In the book, it's hard for Tony to follow the school rules, one is about "B emergencies" (don't interrupt the teacher unless it's a B emergency). My husband and I read it to our kids a few years ago. We still bring up the "B emergencies" when the kids are rattling off their lists of sibling's wrong doings while DH and I are trying to talk lol... Just a thought
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LVG 10:24 AM 07-18-2017
Thanks for all of the wonderful ideas!! Definitely implementing them! We have started centers and that is going well because I've taken away quite a bit of their free time with that. The next issue to tackle the two boys constantly putting their hands on each other!! And maybe I need to write an entirely new post for that, but I will start here! Time out just isn't working. I sit them out over and over and over again, and most of the time for loooong periods of time, and they still go right back to fighting. Sometimes it starts off as playing and I nip it when it starts before it becomes more, but other times it's because they just simply aren't communicating (as most 4 year olds don't) and to get their point across they hurt each other...pinching, pushing, grabbing, etc. I have tried to focus on telling them to come to me immediately when they are frustrated before it escalates...DS will do this sometimes, and DCK never does. The fighting happens at least twice or more a day. DCK starts a lot of the issues, but DS is not innocent either and starts his fair share. Other than time out for acting this way, any other ideas?
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EntropyControlSpecialist 10:41 AM 07-18-2017
Puzzles, play-doh, instructions to build something with blocks/Legos/Magnatiles/etc., trays with a game on the table, coloring book pages, etc.

All of my pre-k kids who are 5 are the same way right now. It is a hard last few weeks here. They're instructed in something like the above activities if they begin doing what you're detailing during their Center Time.

Otherwise, I'd make sure you keep some kind of structure. Play time (short - 30 minutes), then read a book to them or have a circle time, go to the park after for an hour, come back and play for 30 minutes, have them all go work on a puzzle or even watch a show after a puzzle if you have a TV there, have lunch, have them build something, go read books, take a nap, wake up and have snack, go play a little bit, go outside if weather allows, go play a little bit more inside, work on something together (with some kind of toy that can be used as a group), go home. Highly scheduled day with minimal free play time/free play time broken up into small portions.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 10:42 AM 07-18-2017
Originally Posted by LVG:
Thanks for all of the wonderful ideas!! Definitely implementing them! We have started centers and that is going well because I've taken away quite a bit of their free time with that. The next issue to tackle the two boys constantly putting their hands on each other!! And maybe I need to write an entirely new post for that, but I will start here! Time out just isn't working. I sit them out over and over and over again, and most of the time for loooong periods of time, and they still go right back to fighting. Sometimes it starts off as playing and I nip it when it starts before it becomes more, but other times it's because they just simply aren't communicating (as most 4 year olds don't) and to get their point across they hurt each other...pinching, pushing, grabbing, etc. I have tried to focus on telling them to come to me immediately when they are frustrated before it escalates...DS will do this sometimes, and DCK never does. The fighting happens at least twice or more a day. DCK starts a lot of the issues, but DS is not innocent either and starts his fair share. Other than time out for acting this way, any other ideas?
I would assign one to one room (play in the kitchen) and the other in the other room (toy room). Or, one to the table to play with tabletop toys and the other to the toy room then switch. They're old enough to know better. I run a preschool program and have about 18 kids here...they don't harm each other. Even the ROWDY boys.
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