We all have had children that seem too busy or challenging. Below are just a few busy bag tips from the book Ants in Their Pants: Teaching Children Who Must Move to Learn.
- A child who hears “no” a 100 times a day will eventually tune it out. Use it sparingly.
- Open ended activities and questions allow extra busy children to expand their thoughts and reasoning as well as look closely at their work.
- Kinesthetic children often do not do well waiting in line or sitting. Give children a laminated list of waiting options (fidget toys, paper to draw on, songs to sing, etc).
- To get the best play possibilities from Constructive Play Stuff is to make it mobile.
- A quick way to remove sand from children’s skin is to sprinkle baby power onto their skin and it easily brushes off.
- Teach a child how to wash the classroom toys. This instills a sense of responsibility for what goes on in the classroom.
- Ask an extra busy child, “Will you read a book to me out loud?” Have a childhood favorite ready, preferably one with vibrant illustrations.
- Mirrors are an effective tool for helping children work on identifying feeling before, in the midst or after an episode.
- Tables covered with sheets give obstacle courses an imaginative tunnel effect.
- Store playdough in an airtight container or bag. Never leave it in a hot area.
