“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
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“Teachers say my 5 year old not listening in kindergarten. What can I do?”
This may seem like quite an obvious thing to say but before anything else, check his hearing. It may be that at home he hears well but in kindergarten with all the extra noise, he has hearing difficulties. It is always important to discard any possible physical reasons for our children’s behaviours before focusing on psychological ones.
He could also be having trouble with language, following directions, or focusing. It could also be that he is feeling nervous at kindergarten and that stops him from listening properly. It is always important to remember that your child does not mean to be disrespectful, he needs help building his listening skills. Talk to the teacher about these possible reasons and work together to support him. It is very important that the kindergarten and you work as a team.
At home, you can practice with your son to develop his listening skills. Teach him that whenever the teacher talks to him, he should look at them in the eye and ask him to repeat what they said if he did not quite understand it. The teacher could also sit your child next to a ‘well-behaved’ kid so he can model what he should be doing.
Typically, as your child develops, he will get better at listening. If he does not make progress, it may be a good idea to explore whether he may have ADHD or any other condition.
I wish you three all the very best!
Love,
Ana
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The first day at nursery is a big day, not only for your child but for the whole family. In this article we give you seven tips to help you prepare your child for their first day.
1. Talk Positively About Nursery
Walk past the nursery, attend an open day or an induction session. Establish that this is their nursery and talk about when they will join. Take some photos or look at the photos on the website together. Doing this helps your child to achieve a sense of familiarity with it. If your child is excited about it, keep on talking about it regularly, for example, you can count the number of sleeps. If in contrast, your child is anxious it is better not to discuss it too much to avoid building the anxiety.
2. Talk About Others’ Experience at Nursery
As a general rule, sharing your own or other family members’ experience helps your child understand that they are not alone in whatever they are going through. Ask them how they are feeling and validate those feelings. Try to avoid saying things like: “You will be fine”. Instead say things like: “I understand this is tough. I remember it was tough for me as well. Let’s see how we can help you to make things easier”.
3. Organise Playdates with Future Classmates
This is a great way for you and your child to build some relationships.
4. Practice Relevant Skills
Sharing, turn-taking, putting their coat on (watch this video to learn the best method), taking shoes on and off, drinking independently from a cup…
A common question is whether children need to be potty trained before starting at nursery. This varies from nursery to nursery. Some will ask for your child to be trained before starting whereas others will support you in this transition. In general, it is best to wait for the child to be ready. If possible, do not rush to do it in the last few weeks before nursery starts. Consider that when they start nursery, children may feel uncomfortable asking a new adult to help them in the loo and may not ask, leading to accidents that will most likely upset them. Also, at the beginning they are more likely to miss the signs because they are in a new and stimulating environment. If your child is not potty trained at the start, allow them to settle at nursery, and once they are happy you can agree with their teacher on the best time to do it.
5. Engage in Role-Play
If the nursery has a uniform or a bag, practice wearing it and role play going to school. This can be a great activity if another child you know is also starting at the same nursery.
6. Remove Their Dummy or Comfort Object for Periods of Time
Try to remove them for the part of the day that they will be at nursery. Working on language and communication will be a priority at nursery, and this will be difficult using a dummy. Similarly, your child will be working on their fine (e.g., cutting, sticking) and gross (e.g., throwing a ball) motor skills and this will be difficult if they are holding a comfort object. Explain to your child that they will be kept safe at home or at nursery until they are finished.
7. Work on Separation
Arrange to leave them even for a short period of time with a friend or a family member. Be confident when you leave and reassure them that you are coming back. Depending on how they feel, start with a few minutes and build up to an hour or two. If they are sad, tell them it is OK to feel that way and remind them that you came back as promised. Stay positive, discuss the great things they did while you were away.
What happens if your child cries a lot when you leave them at nursery? By the time your child starts nursery, they will have established a strong attachment with you and other caregivers. So, leaving you will most likely upset them. Parents usually ask if it is better to stay with their child while they settle or to leave straight away. Consider that your child needs to establish a bond with their new teacher. Why should they even try if you are there, covering all their emotional needs? The best thing when you get to nursery is to explain to your child that you must leave to go to work or run errands and explain that you will return soon. Usually, there will be tears, but your child will eventually settle. The teacher will be able to support your child better once you are gone through fun and engaging activities. Do not however sneak off, it is much better to be honest and say you are leaving. Your child will develop confidence in you that way.
If your child cries a lot, it may be a good idea to start with short sessions and gradually build up the time, keeping the separation routine consistent each time. For some children, it may take a long time but if they see that you are becoming anxious, it may be harder from them. Remember each child is different!
We hope your child has the best time at nursery! The information on this article is based on our masterclass: Choosing the right nursery for your child. Watch it here to learn more tips and useful information. If you have any questions, get in touch with me. We are here to support you and your family!
Much love,
Ana
