She’s having trouble staying focused on one activity; instead, she’s running around the classroom, encouraging other children to join her. The class becomes chaotic and hard to manage; it feels like no one is listening to us. “They sure have a lot of energy today,” I remark. I remember what Karolyn said: “Are you fitting the children to the environment or fitting the environment for children?” So, I play a song for them. “Who wants to dance?”
February 27, 2024 at 2:01 pm
Well said, if the environment isn’t working we need to pivot not the children. If children are constantly being asked to settle down or having a hard time with there bodies. Educators need to read the room and make changes. Dance party, bubbles, go outside earlier or another way to help them with their excited energy.
March 21, 2024 at 10:25 pm
Absolutely, I completely agree. Your insights have been invaluable, and I’ve learned a lot from your approach. It’s incredibly helpful to recognize when the environment isn’t conducive to the children’s needs and to pivot accordingly. Your suggestions for managing their energy and redirecting their excitement are excellent strategies that I’ll definitely incorporate into my practice. Thank you for sharing your expertise!
March 17, 2024 at 11:35 am
Lovely way to use energy in a positive way. Having bubbles, scarfs and access to music is one of our best tools to use when we see that the children are needing a release.