::pulling hair out::

Any suggestions to keep 3 and 4 year olds focused on dance for holiday show while we have parent viewing? We have 4 more classes until then, and I fear parent viewing will probably go as well as last year, no focus what so ever...

Last year during parent viewing, I sprained my ankle in the middle of my 3 year old class (on video, of course)... wish me more luck than last year!

You may already do this but...sit them down before class and explain what a special day it is that the parents are here and that they need to have extra good focus today in order to get a sticker so that they can show mom and dad all of the wonderful things they have learned! Say it loud enough that mom and dad can hear it and hopefully they will get the idea too. Focus everyone focus!!!

Good luck

I always give the mums a quick talk about what I'm doing in the classes and why I do them and how with an audience there will be a lack of focus as the children want to see mums reaction more than mine. Most of them know what to expect anyway as they know their own children.

I also warn the parents ahead of time that when they are they watching it is distracting so the children might act up. I usually get together some of their favorite activities together as they are more focused when it is the things they REALLY enjoy doing!

OK, Here's how Day 1 went....

only 3 kids (a set of twins and on other girl) show up for 3/4 combo, but somehow there are 8 parents in the room.... oh! to see the twins, who missed their nap today =) enough said

and Musical Theatre (ages 5-10) oldest girl in the class (the sister of twins i mentioned earlier)... does really really good for a change! she's always been tough, but the entire class every time she gets a little silly (that's just the way she is, i teach this class a little less structured because of the children i have) the DAD sits there and says "______, Pay attention", "I've had enough of this".... like 40 some odd times!!!

ugg.... only 5 more days, hoping they go better!

Thanks for all the advice, I do most of these things, I think I'm just going to make the parents get up and dance with my youngest if things don't go well =)

Actually, thats what the girl teaching babies at one studio I work for does. Last year I was watching her on parent watching week, she leaves the door open and my classes where next , and all of the mums and dads where in the circle with the kids.