what do you do when youryoung 2-4yrs dont pay attention. i have 4 classes with this age this year and all are pretty good but the last one the class is 5:30-6:30 (parents who work fill this one up FAST) it is my hardest class out of the entire studio, i need help some days i feel like just sitting down and watching them run around. this is also my only class with a student teacher, she helps but they still are not as good as my other classes, any help please!
thanks

Hello! I have a class that is that exact same way. I have found that sometimes I will go into class with a plan and it sometimes just dosent go my way. If they start getting out of hand I will say ok lets everyone come over here and sit down after everyone sits down including myself I will whisper (they think you have something really important to say when you are whispering) I will tell them that we are going to sing a song or act like I have a secret. Then I will put tape on the floor (painters tape- it comes right up) and give everyone a spot one by one telling them to cover there spot. If they get off there spot I will say I can see your spot you better cover it up. They seem to respond really well to this. Another thing is I have this jack in the box song at the end everyone is suppose to act like they are going to sleep. It gets them all quiet and then I can actually try to teach something. As back up I burned a whole CD of just Wiggles and they LOVE it!!!! Hope this helps you.

Wow, you have classes that young that late in the evening? I know it won't help right now, but may I suggest that in the future classes for this age are not offered so late? This is a BAD time for kids of that age. We offer classes for this age at around 3:00-4:00 in the afternoon, ending no later than 4:30. Parents who work just need to sign up for the Saturday classes. Also, classes for this age are 30-45 minutes; we don't start hour long classes until they are older 4/s, turning 5.

Anyway, trying to help for this year - the previous poster had some really good ideas. Quiet voices work much better - kids generally settle down for that. Do you use Greg and Steve songs? Kids in Motion is really good. There's a lot of good stuff on the We All Live Together cds. Hap Palmer is also very good. For this age, this late in the evening, I would try to have everyone dance together - not much taking turns, as some are too young for that, plus they are too tired that late, and will get antsy waiting their turn.

Props are also great to use - bean bags, hula hoops, parachutes, scarves, etc. Are you trying to teach any "dance" steps to this age - plies, shuffles, etc? This age should be doing all creative stuff, so if you're trying for more technical stuff, I'd hold off on that for a while. Just try to keep it fun and upbeat (once you quiet them down to get their attention!) Good luck!

it is a creative movement class.
thanks for the help.
i have the wiggles CD along with every other kid CD out there! lol well not every one, just all the kid CD's at target
as far as the time, well this is my biggest class time because it is the time parents want. i dont have Sat classes so that doesnt work either. i had their class this week and it went pretty good (one of the moms told me she has been talking to her daughter about how she is acting in class) she was so much better! it made the whole class better. oh well after 8 years of teaching i know some days are better then others!
thanks again

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I do agree with the comment made prior to mine by debrey. I only give 30 minute classes to that pre-school age group. And we don't stay on one thing for too long. I must say that in my experiences of teaching for 20 plus years that 2 is a bit young for most children-and for some children they are not ready until they are a few years older than that. It has been suggested to me that for the very wee ones to have a "Mommy and me" type of class that way it is not all on you to keep the kids focused on what you are trying to work on with them. I even have 3yr olds "try a class or two" before I and the parents decide whether they are ready or should wait a bit longer. And might I suggest that you keep the number of students low at that age if you are on your own teaching the class. I try to keep mine below 8 in a class at that age. Exploring movement is something that is natural to us. I often find myself feeling guilty for taking customers money when what we do in a creative movement/pre-dance class is something that the parents could do with their children. But if the parent don't feel they have the time then by golly then we should get paid for doing that. When you have a smaller group of children-I have found that you can work on a more individual basis with them. You learn what makes them focus, what kind of mood they are in that day, and how they process what they are experiencing in the class you are leading them through. You can understand how each child learns. And to be honest there are some teachers who just seem to have that "magic" with the kids of that age. Children sense things that we once were aware of as children ourselves and they often easily get caught up in the energy from those kids that are "bouncing off the walls". Just look at the potty thing-one child says "I have to go potty" and the next thing you know you have the majority of your class asking to go too. This is getting quite lengthy-I apologize. But just one more thing I'd like to share- I have a class of pre-tumbling/motor skills class 3-5 year olds-two boys-one with obvious signs of some degree of autism, and the other on the line of hyperactivity, a girl who is profoundly deaf and has many physical challenges, and another girl who consistanly "zones" out and gets so easily distracted when something else catches her attention and she is just fixated on it. Another girl who is always just coming out of a nap when she arrives at class and another who is the youngest-now 4-extremely talented and aware of her body who has near panic attacks before she finally feels secure enough to participate-they are all in the same class-talk about having my work cut out for me. I do have other teachers in the class with me- and that helps tremedously. I do understand what you are going through. And I hope that you can figure out a way to make your job with your students easier and more enjoyable. Take Care, yours in the dance, Dancerspirit

when my kids are wild and crazy, we play freeze dance. I tell them what movements they can do: chasse, bourrees, soutes, etc. and when the music starts, they go nuts. when i pause it, they have to freeze where they are. Whoever moves has to come sit down by me and help me pick out those that move. Its organized chaos, and at least they are dancing.

I agree with the comment above about whispering. I tell them ballerinas talk only in whispers. We whisper everything!

Also, I reward good behavior with certain tasks: Whoever is the quietest and sitting on their spot can pass out the wands, or go first in line, or whatever.

Bribing works wonders as well. My kids will do anything for suckers, stickers and stamps,

Good Luck, and know that you arent the only one trying to manage a room full of crazy kids!