“Children learn more from who you are than what you teach."

10 Techniques for Re-gaining Classroom Control

The most important part of gaining the children’s attention is to practice attention getters when the classroom is calm. Say, “When you hear me _________________, then I want you to ______________.” Practice it several times so children know what to expect.

Try these strategies:

1. Bring out the Puppet! Consider different puppets for different activities. When each puppet comes out, children will know it is time for that specific activity:

• A helper puppet for cleaning up

• A traveling puppet for moving outside or to a different part of the building

• A sleepy puppet for nap

• A hungry puppet for snack or lunch

2. Sing to the tune of Are You Sleeping:

Are you listening? Are you listening?

To my voice, to my voice,

freeze right where you are, freeze right where you are,

without a noise, without a noise. (Whisper the last line)

3. Clap a pattern which the children clap back

4. Call and Response. Say, “1, 2, 3, eyes on me!” Children respond with “1, 2, eyes on you!” Practice by saying, “When you hear me _________________, then I want you to ______________.”

5. Positive Praise. Look for a child who is doing what you have requested and then say excitedly, “Look how __________ is doing exactly what was asked (remind children exactly what it is you requested them to do). I can see that _____________ is ready to learn!”

6. Sing, If You’re Happy and You Know It, but add your own directions, for example,

If you’re happy and you know it, line up at the door (x2)

If you’re happy and you know it, and you really want to show it

If you’re happy and you know it, line up at the door!

7. Wiggle Breaks. When children are participating in an activity which involves sitting for periods of time like circle time, say, “We are going to take a little wiggle break, everyone stand up… wiggle until I get to 0 and then sit back down… (count down from 10 or 5).”

8. “Give me five!” Teach children this means they are to have two eyes looking, two ears listening, and one mouth quiet. Children hold one hand in the air to freeze and listen to directions.

9. Play a variation of Simon Says called “If you’re listening…” After saying, “If you’re listening, … several times and most of the children are listening, give the directions for the next activity. Example:

If you’re listening, touch your ears

If you’re listening, clap two times

If you’re listening, stomp three times

10. Sing the following to the tune of Are You Sleeping:

I am looking, I am looking,

Who do I see? Who do I see?

Listening so nicely, listening so nicely,

Thank you, ___________, thank you, ____________.

Using Puppets in Early Care

Puppets provide a wide range of benefits for children in a child care setting. Child care providers can use puppets, whether they are purchased at the store or homemade, to enhance almost any area of the child care curriculum. Children of all ages can enjoy using puppets in child care.

Benefits of Using Puppets in a Child Care

Setting Puppets are a great way to engage the attention and imagination of children of all ages. Using puppets in the child care curriculum is an enjoyable way to promote children's learning of new skills and concepts. Benefits of using puppets in child care include the following:

• Social skills: Puppets can increase children's communication and social skills by providing structured opportunities to interact with the puppets. Children can also practice these skills by using puppets to interact with other children.

• Emotional development: Puppets can support children emotionally by giving them a "friend" to talk to, or a way to talk to other children without having to speak directly.

• Confidence in reading and speaking: Children who are reluctant to speak or read out loud may be more willing to talk or read to a puppet.

• Music appreciation: Puppets can make music and creative movement more interesting and can teach children the words and movements to new songs.

• Motor skills: Manipulating puppets can be a positive way to encourage movement and to practice gross and fine motor control.

• Guidance: Children can learn appropriate behaviors by watching the puppet's example, or the puppet can introduce and explain class rules.

• Encouraging creativity: Children can use puppets to come up with stories, scenarios, and creative ways to solve problems.

• Capturing attention: A puppet can be a good tool to capture the attention of young children in large-group and small-group settings, especially if the adult gives the puppet an engaging "personality."

• Promoting dramatic play: Puppets can be easy-to-manipulate characters in a variety of dramatic play themes and stories.

Ways to Use Puppets in Child Care

Puppets can be used across many different parts of the early childhood curriculum. Here are a few common places where puppets can enhance young children's play and learning:

• Dramatic play: Children can use puppets to act out their own scenarios and stories.

• Transitions: Puppets are a great tool for telling children what activity is coming next. For example, Wanda the Chef might come out of her kitchen to let the children know it's time to clean up for snack/lunch.

• Games: Puppets can lead games with children, such as "Simon Says" and "I-Spy." Puppets can also participate in the game, either as a positive role model or as an example of misbehavior that the children can help correct.

• Reading: Children can practice reading their favorite books to puppets, especially if they're too shy to read in front of teachers or other children. Children who are not reading yet can make up stories to tell the puppet, or "read" to them by telling a familiar story using the illustrations in the storybook. Puppets can also read children their favorite books.

• Creative Art: Puppets can paint with children or introduce a new craft to the children.

• Puppet Shows: Children can use puppets to put on their own puppet shows for other students or their child care providers. Child care providers can also use puppet shows to introduce new concepts to children.

• Music Time: Puppets can sing and dance during large group activities.

Types of Puppets

Puppets come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, races, and ethnicity. Some puppets have mouths, legs, etc. that move, while others may not. Puppets can be:

• People

• Animals

• Insects

• Store-bought

• Homemade

• Hand-held

• Wrapped around fingers

• Pulled over hands

• Controlled by strings

In addition to the classroom puppets, give children the opportunity to make their own individual puppets out of socks or brown paper bags, sticks, spoons, balls, gloves, or mittens. Encourage the children to be as creative as possible.

Download the Puppet PDF

Supporting Language Development

At Stepping Stone School, every interaction must be impacted by, guided by and focused on EMPATHY and COMPASSION!

There is NO ONE in our system that can not do this better.  We must all step up, believing that this is the heart of what is expected of us as early childhood professionals – and more important still, expected of us as caring human beings for the very smallest and most vulnerable of our own. 

Most of you show up every day, prepared to wear the hats of the nurturer, teacher, nurse, caregiver, playmate, housekeeper, negotiator, environmental specialist and meal server – just to name a few.  Sometimes you must feel like the ‘Cat in the Hat’, with your hats stacked one upon the other, bending and weaving precariously!  

There is SO much to do!  It is necessary to factor in time management and planning to get through your day.  It is necessary to be conscientious about record keeping, safety procedures and hygiene.  But truth be told, you chose this wonderful, busy, creative and stimulating profession because you are the kind of person who thrives on the newness of each day.  The fresh slate each morning waiting for you to make your mark!  This is the world of early childhood – made new each day by the honesty and beauty of the children whose care you are entrusted with.

WHY then do we still see these UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIORS?!

…. Why are there still teachers moving through the day as if they would rather be somewhere else?  As if they have forgotten that they have the privilege to interact with these beautiful, ingenious, funny and incredibly accepting children – children who are ALWAYS ready to accept us?  

….Why are there still classrooms, long after nap is over, with children milling around the rooms, shelves not opened from the walls (even though there are no mats in front of them), and nothing prepared on the tables?  Why do these rooms look as if the teacher would rather not start this next part of the day – even while looking into the rested, alert, eager eyes of the children, who are excited to start this fresh part of their day?  

…..Why are there not always warm greetings after nap, cheery hugs, prompt, pleasant movements of the adult as he or she puts the room back together for a productive afternoon?  

….Why are there still children crying, while the adult who is supposed to be nurturing and caring for them does not bend down and soothe them?  Why do we still hear a teacher tell a toddler, “You need to stop crying.  There is nothing to cry about.”?

….Why do we still see children sitting and waiting at tables while teachers are doing custodial duties?  Often without toys or the playful singing or interaction by a teacher? 

….Why do we still see morning receiving rooms and evening closing rooms that do not have interesting and planned activities occurring? 

….Why do we still think there are times of the day when custodial caregiving is acceptable?

We ALL can learn from these real descriptions.  There are NONE of us who have not demonstrated through our own practices something described above or similar.  The REAL PROBLEM is if we are not honest with ourselves.  If we do not see that we have the need to improve.  If we do not agree that every child deserves this?    

Each day, each of us must choose to be in the moment with the children in our care.  When we are empathetic and compassionate about what they are experiencing in that moment, our words, expressions and actions will be automatically appropriate!

“I am committed to growing as an empathetic, compassionate caregiver!”

What is Clutter?

Clutter is piles of things-so much stuff that doesn’t have a home. Clutter is disorganization: desk clutter, a disorganized house, a messy classroom. It can be a sign of bigger problems. It needs to get under control before accumulating more things and impacting your well-being. It can lead to procrastination and stress. Once you learn to organize your space, reduce clutter, and simplify your life, you’ll probably find yourself happier and more energetic.

Ways Clutter and Mental Health are Connected

The more I read about the effects of clutter on mental health, the more I realize I am not alone. I didn’t have a special issue with clutter; clutter is an issue for everyone.

It’s time that we all learn the negative effects of clutter and simply owning too much stuff. When we know how clutter really affects us, it works as a great motivation to begin decluttering.

Here are 15 ways clutter and mental health are connected:

1. Clutter Negatively Affects Your Mood

We all know this already, don’t we?!

Clutter around us absolutely has the ability to make us cranky. Seeing all of the things that are constantly in our way or consistently requiring our attention can leave us feeling frustrated.

2. Clutter Causes Higher Stress Levels

Clutter is literally known to increase stress levels. Seeing clutter around us causes us to constantly see an insane amount of stuff that must be dealt with, and soon. 

Our stress levels are important to monitor, because stress can have a huge toll on our body, thoughts, feelings, and even behavior. The effects of stress can lead to larger problems such as anxiety, depression, or high blood pressure. 

3. Clutter Depletes Your Energy

Clutter depletes your energy in more ways than one. Having excess stuff in your space can drain your energy both mentally and physically!

Clutter saps your energy mentally and physically by requiring much of you. Anything that is taking up unnecessary space and isn’t providing enough value is clutter.

When you have a cluttered home, it requires that you spend a lot of time and energy working around these items or caring for them. Clutter also requires that you spend a great deal of time thinking about or even worrying about stuff that doesn’t deserve that much mental capacity!

4. Clutter Makes You Feel Out of Control

When clutter elevates your level of stress, it tends to make you feel completely out of control. There is simply too much stuff in your space, and there are only so many hours of the day.

Letting your space get cluttered, even if slowly over time, shows you that you haven’t been intentional about what comes into your home. Feeling out of control can leave you discouraged and unsure of how to reverse what has already been done.

5. Clutter Can Lead to Negative Feelings

All of these effects of clutter already mentioned can leave you feeling negative about yourself and your space. 

You may feeling defeated when you look around and see the amount of stuff you’ve accumulated. Feeling negative about your ability to do anything about the clutter or to change your habits can leave you feeling utterly hopeless.

Or, maybe you feel overwhelmed by all that has to get done.

6. Clutter Can Produce Cluttered Thoughts

All of these negative feelings can begin to clutter your mind. You may dwell on the negative, or even begin having untrue thoughts about yourself. 

In addition, just the amount of mental capacity that you give to your clutter can get out of control. Clutter doesn’t deserve a place in your space, so it doesn’t deserve a place in your mind either.

7. Clutter Makes Decision-Making and Recall Difficult

Have you ever experienced decision fatigue?

Clutter can make decision fatigue happen so much more frequently. The excess amount of stuff around us makes us overwhelmed, making it difficult for us to make decisions or even to know where to start.

Even more alarming is that mental clutter is a primary suspect in the cause of memory loss related to age. A disorganized mind makes it extremely difficult to remember important information when we need it.

8. Clutter Causes Distraction

Clutter also makes it easy to get distracted, because it’s visually disruptive.

We may be working on something else that’s more important, but, we keep getting distracted by the clutter and the mess.

Clutter keeps mentally pulling us away from what is most important!

9. Clutter Makes it Difficult to Focus

Not only that, but clutter makes it really hard to focus. We keep getting pulled this way and that way until nothing gets done well.

A lack of focus makes it nearly impossible to be productive and get things done around the house. Even more, a lack of focus keeps us from fully investing in what (and who) is important!

10. Clutter Affects Your Ability to Process

Did you know that clutter actually makes you inefficient at processing visual information? Seeing the clutter all around us literally causes visual overload.

According to Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D. in her article on Psychology Today, “it’s actually harder to read people’s feelings when your visual surroundings are filled with random stimuli.”

How quickly and accurately we process visual information decreases when we are surrounded by clutter. It makes sense. Too much around us distracts us and keeps us from focusing as much as we need to in order to mentally process well.

11. Clutter Can Lead to Anxiety

It’s no surprise, then, that clutter can actually lead to anxiety. Clutter can leave us overwhelmed, nervous, and anxious. Left unchecked, it can actually increase our heart rate and leave us breathing heavily (both signs of anxiety).

Many of the negative effects of clutter that I’ve mentioned already are actually symptoms of anxiety! A lack of energy, trouble concentrating, excessive worrying, are all symptoms of anxiety, according to the Mayo Clinic.

12. Clutter Can Breed a Lack of Self-Control

Beyond the negative effects of clutter on our feelings and thoughts, it can can ultimately affect our behaviors. Much of the time it’s actually our unhealthy thoughts and feelings that lead to unhealthy behaviors.

Because of this, consistently feeling inadequate or out of control is the perfect breeding ground for a lack of self-control. We may feel that nothing will every change so why even try, leading to more self-destructive behaviors.

13. Clutter Encourages Unhealthy Eating

One behavior that clutter has been known to negatively affect is our eating habits. In fact, clutter is tied to both overeating and undereating. It just depends on our personal response to stress and overwhelm.

Feeling out of control in terms of clutter encourages unhealthy eating. An Australia-US study found that people will eat more in an environment that’s stressful, chaotic, disorganized, or messy.

14. Clutter Can Bring About Lower Self-Worth

Having a cluttered home can leave you feeling embarrassed or even ashamed.

Additionally, the feelings of defeat and hopelessness that I mentioned earlier can leave you with a lower sense of self-worth. It can feel like you really messed up and you can never change.

The Psychological Benefits of Decluttering

After learning about all of the negative effects of clutter, remember that the opposite is true when you declutter your home and life.

Eliminate clutter from your home to reap these incredible decluttering benefits:

• Feeling more freedom and joy in your home and life
• A greater sense of calm and control
• The removal of unnecessary stress
• More energy for whatever is important to you
• Increased ability to focus and process information
• A clearer mind so you can make better decisions easily
• Feeling empowered and hopeful 

Isn’t the psychology of decluttering so interesting?

Start Decluttering Your Space Today

Now that you know the key ways clutter and mental health are connected, it’s time to make a decision. Will you begin decluttering your life?

Uncluttering your home has many positive effects on your life beyond just the mental ones. Decluttering (and keeping it that way) also positively affects your space, time, and even money.

Use decluttering checklists to keep track of your progress! When we track our progress, it helps us stay motivated by seeing how far we’ve come!

Positive Language and Redirection in Your Class!

Infant Classroom Weekly Tasks

Toddler Classroom Weekly Tasks