“Advice for classroom management strategies? New-ish nursery school teacher here and want to make sure I am prepared at the new nursery I’ve transferred to, being that the wee ones (4 year olds in my new class) can be absolutely chaotic at times! Thank you so much.”

Good luck in your new position! The 4-year-olds are lovely but exhausting indeed! I worked in a nursery for a year and remember it very well. 

Here are some ideas for you: 

• You set the emotional climate in your classroom: the children sense how you feel, whether you are angry, sad, happy… When you are positive and in a good mood, you are likely to establish a good rapport with them and they are more likely to behave well because they will want to please you. 

• Use praise: sometimes we only focus on bad behaviour and ignore when they behave well. Notice when they behave well and tell them. They are more likely to repeat the behaviours you praise.

• Assign jobs: giving them jobs makes them feel important members of the group. 

• Establish clear routines so they know what is coming and what they are meant to be doing. Children like routine. It gives them stability and a sense of security and safety. 

• Set clear expectations and rules. This also gives children a sense of safety. 

• Be a good role model: if you want them to be kind and respectful towards each other, you need to behave that well. 

• Establish a good rapport with parents and caregivers: caring for children is a team effort. 

• Know about child development so you can adjust your expectations about what children that age are able to do. 

• Plan transitions: transitions can be chaotic. Manage them by giving them notice when a transition is about to happen, as this will allow children to prepare for them.

I wish you all the very best!

Love,

Ana

Dr Ana Aznar

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