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30.8.11: Too Much Sitting Still

  • Page ID
    199571
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    Evaluating Structured Activities 

    Managing the length and frequency of structured activities like circle time is crucial in an infant or toddler classroom. The ability of older infants and toddlers to sit still for extended periods varies significantly based on their age, developmental stage, and individual temperament.A 30-minute circle time is generally too long for toddlers. Even a 20-minute session may push the developmentally appropriate limits for this age group. It is important for caregivers to continually assess and adjust the duration of such activities best to fit the needs and capacities of their classroom. A practical approach is to start with shorter durations, such as 5 minutes, and then gradually increase the time as the children grow older and more accustomed to the routine [1].

    Some infants and toddlers may be able to engage in a sitting activity for a more extended period, while others may become restless more quickly. It is important to recognize and respect these differences, adapting the structure of activities like circle time to ensure they are engaging, age-appropriate, and not overly taxing for toddlers. Structured activities should be brief and appropriately tailored to the toddlers' developmental needs and individual temperaments, ensuring a positive and engaging experience for all children in the classroom [2].

    Attributions:

    • [1] Hunter, A., & Blackwell, K. T. (2011, November). Social emotional development within the context of relationships Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning. (2011, November). Strategies for supporting the development of friendship skills in ... [PDF document]. Retrieved from https://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/resources/inftodd/mod2/2.15.pdf
    • [2] Hunter, A., & Blackwell, K. T. (2011, November). Social emotional development within the context of relationships Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning. (2011, November). Strategies for supporting the development of friendship skills in ... [PDF document]. Retrieved from https://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/resources/inftodd/mod2/2.15.pdf

    30.8.11: Too Much Sitting Still is shared under a mixed license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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