Circle Time Ideas to Maintain Attention
1. Start circle off with controlled gross motor movement – more stretching, body awareness, proprioceptive input rather than fast movement.
2. Incorporate music, puppets, movement, hands-on as much as possible versus a lot of language.
3. For those children with limited expressive or receptive skills try using symbols, pictures, or sign language.
4. Sometimes having a small snack in a cup to munch on helps maintain focus.
5. To keep child in chair you can try alternative seating:
· Special chair with arms
· Stadium seat
· Small therapy ball in inverted rubbermaid stool
· T-stool
· Beanbag
· Several cushions or pillow
· Rocking chair
· Move and sit cushion
· Carpet squares
Be aware of children who have tactile sensory issues. Place children at least a foot apart so they are not focusing on the child next to them and if that child might touch them. Children are unpredictable in their movement and a tactile defensive child may feel more comfortable next to an adult or spaced further from the other children.
6. “Map” the child’s body by sitting behind child and contouring around them or
placing them in beanbag chair.
7. Drape something heavy across lap
8. Use weighted vest
9. Allow child to have a fidget toy such as squishy ball, twisty snakes, small stuffed animals
10. Provide occasional localized pressure on shoulders/thighs
11. If child has difficulty keeping hands to self he can sit on hands or hold onto squish ball or stuffed animal.
12. Involve that child during circle – they can sit near teacher, turn pages in book, pass out items, etc.
13. Avoid too much language. Keep directions simple, voice calming.
14. Remember, keep circle short and maybe have several sessions instead of 1 long one.