Multiple short and highly interactive large group times are more effective than one long Circle Time with toddlers. We recommend you plan 4 short group times each day. Each group time follows a consistent routine so the children know what to expect.
When designing your group times, plan for no more than 10-12 minutes. During the 10 minutes, have 2-3 minute segments that alternative between Move – Sitting – Moving – Sitting activities.
The more you can sing and the more children can have something to touch or a way to move their bodies, the more successful and fun your group times will be.
READ: Facilitating Group Times with Toddlers
Set Up Your Toddler Circle Time Display
Experience Curriculum provides the following materials in the Experience Toddler boxes you can use during Circle Time each month:
- Board/Wall Titles
- Shape & Color Cards
- Sign Language Cards
- Board Titles
- Letter & Number Cards
- Weather and Calendar Materials
- Sorting cups
- Colored pompoms
- Finger Play Poster
Circle Time for Toddlers
Keep Circle Time short and sweet for toddlers with this routine:
- Transition to Circle Time with a Song. Try It’s Time to Start Our Day from the Toddler Group Routines Cards.
- Sing the Hello Song.
- Introduce a purple card Literacy/Social Emotional Activity from the Experience Toddler curriculum.
- Sing and dance to a Letter Song from Toddler Beats.
Transition toddlers to group time again throughout the day to participate in art, math and music, and movement activities.