Stage Area - What To Do?

[louihw]

Hi

 

In my classroom (nursery 3-4 year olds) we have a type of stage area (with spindles and bannister on the edge) which is tucked away around a corner. It is proving a problem as what to put on there as it tucked away it becomes a problem area for behaviour and mess.

 

Since September we have tried:

 

Role play - home corner - it ended up a mess everyday - with cupboards pulled over and children also used them to climb on the bannister)

Sensory area - this was successful for a while

Reading and listening area - books were ripped and listening station broken beyond repair!!!

Last week we put a tent up there but it was broken in less than a day

 

It is a large large and it seems a shame not to use it but nothing seems to work up there

 

The obvious solution would for an adult to be up there - but because it is tucked around a corner - classroom is L shaped this is not always possible as when children go outside there is only one adult inside and if they are on the stage they can't see the rest of the classroom including the water area - door and toilets which also require high supervision

 

Any ideas greatly received

 

xxx

[louihw]

oh forgot to say we also left it empty for a week - to see what the children did with it - but the boys used the space for superhero play - which is great but led to a few children being hurt through rough play and also other staff commented as to why it was empty making us feel guilty that it was not set up

[Guest]

I think I'd be tempted to say it is 'off bounds' until behaviour improves. That's pretty awful that they ripped up all your books!

 

Then perhaps let a few children up there as a 'treat' for good behaviour.

[emz321]

have you asked the children what they would like up there? maybe if they decised and help create e area they may be less inclined to trash it.

 

Also have you tired sitting down with them and asking them to come up with rules for playing in that area/ how can we keep ourselfs safe ect. maybe put emphasis on the fact your are trusting them to play their without an adult and if they can't play nicely it will have to be closed. you could reward the children when they play nicely in their and make a big fuss or like the post before only allow the children in their who treat it with repsect.

 

my recpetion class have just been told off by the headteacher for breaking equipment and smashing a window! she told them we had no money so to fix the window she will have to use money for their toys/ euipment in year one as its not fair to use the new recpetion childrens money. she said if they start caring for the toys she will see if she can find money else where! they are slowly getting better but one of our poorer students brought the headteacher 5p to help her find the money!

[redjayne]

It does seem that children these days are much less respectful of toys and equipment than even a few years ago - maybe it's all part of this disposable society we live in ' if it breaks we buy a new one!'

As for the stage area it seems a shame that it isn't being used , as others have suggested getting the children to choose what goes up there - or using it as a 'special area' for children who have behaved well might be options. What about a cheap CCTV camera and screen set up where you can see it , that way the area can be watched and culprits caught in the act if they don't look after the area.

[louihw]

Some good ideas guys - thanks

 

Think I will sit down with them and ask what they want - they will probably have better ideas than me - then go through rules with them and emphasise the issue of trusting them to be up there maybe put some of the more sensible children in charge

 

Thanks again

[Guest]

sorry if this seems obvious but what about using it as a stage?! Showtimes could be set to certain times of the day with it off limits the rest of the time. You could have a few toy microphones, hats, feather boas, sunglasses etc up there. Maybe also get some fabric and drape it to make curtains, maybe dangle some old CDs from the ceiling to act like disco balls!

Is there room to put a couple of rows of chairs out in front for the audience? If yes would it be possible for an adult to sit in the back row and be able to see round the corner and watch the rest of the nursery too?

You could have this area as a focus for a while to teach the children how to use it. It could also extend to other areas of the classroom, e.g. making tickets/ posters for the shows, thinking about the times of the shows, making props etc. Maybe if you made it a big focus for the children they might learn to love it so much that they don't want to wreck it.