Name: CHEC Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-12T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-14T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Denver, CO

Tagged: Punctuality

This topic has 5 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 8 months ago by Jan.

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

Author
Posts
September 27, 2015 at 3:26 am
Jan
Participant
Hi I’d be grateful for any tips on getting kids to come pronto to our sitting room ready for circle time. They get so in to play after breakfast they are distracted. I have a 5 year old girl, 3 year old boy and a baby. I would like them to feel excited about gathering together and not as though it is a chore. Once we finally group we have a lovely time reading, singing (well you know, with the odd issue here and there).
September 27, 2015 at 10:05 am
Kelley
Participant
Do you give lots of cues? “In five minutes, we’ll do circle time! I have some fun stories planned for today!” “Three more minutes to circle time!” “When this timer goes off, it’s time to meet on the rug together!” That way they can be finishing up whatever play they’re involved in.
September 27, 2015 at 10:19 am
suzukimom
Participant
A gathering song can help too…. A song that you play on a device (or one that you sing) that cues the starting of circle time….
September 27, 2015 at 10:38 am
Kelley
Participant
Yes! Songs are great for helping kids get into a rhythm. Check out some Waldorf resources for circle time and rhythm. There are lots of songs and verses you can use.
September 27, 2015 at 2:14 pm
MountainMamma
Participant
We do free play time before breakfast and morning basket time. I usually start our read alouds soon after we start eating and get good attention. My 4 year old DD is a slow eater so this keeps her occupied through most of our homeschool time (only less than an hour at the table at this point).
Maybe you could switch it up and let them play before breakfast? Food always motivates my kids to come together. 🙂
September 27, 2015 at 3:16 pm
Jan
Participant
Thanks so much for your replies, you’ve all been helpful. We’ve had a relaxed, basic circle time for a long time now, starting at any time between 8.30 and 10am (dependent on feeding baby, showering, doing a few admin things etc), but after reading a fair few of the latest posts about circle/morning basket time I felt I should start at 9am to get cracking and to fit more in. (Do you all start ‘on time’ or is each day different?) I am wondering if my son could sense my rushing and so played up, for a week. I gave cues, they had played before breakfast and a tiny bit afterwards. I guess also they’re used to being able to play for an hour or so after breakfast so the 9am starts were quite a change for them. I’ll look for some gathering songs, thanks, and hopefully the result will be like that of the Pied Piper…