trekker Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 What do you do about children who scatter everything off tables or tip out boxes onto the floor ?...puzzles, blocks, sand, books...anything and everything - often without even stopping to look at / play with it first...and then move off to something else. They really seem to just cruise from one area to another and if they see anything they can move onto the floor that's exactly where it goes. We have reduced the tables to the minimum...just one fixed and a selection of other items are on open shelving for free access. The children are all two years or thereabouts and I know it could be schematic play in some cases..in others its just imitation / bored??? ... just wondered if anyone has a solution so that I don't have to spend the whole day clearing up just to make space for those who do want to play. We only have a very small room - up to 10 children max and space is tight as it is without the floor covered in random bits and bobs. Oh and often the culprits plain refuse to come and tidy it up...any help / advice with that??? Driving me a bit potty lately :wacko:. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finleysmaid Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 have you tried putting a selection of items in the area and either popping the box under the table or out of the way. It may be that they are finding it too much to cope with a whole box of stuff ....and it also feeds in to the 'play room ' fever that they experience at home. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lashes2508 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Giving support to show them how they can use the resources as they may not have experienced them before and teaching them to tidy up , make it a game but also be consistent, sadly it seems that many children don't have any respect for toys or belongings or are expected to tidy up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fredbear Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 We have lots of scatterers too. I agree to limit the amount out on each table with a box underneath, for those that would like to extend their creations, they could then access them easily to retrieve more parts. Modelling language like" I'm going to try to keep these here so we don't lose them" approach often works too. Plenty of equipment on the floor, including mark-making, soft tufts are great for containing equipment too. It is a normal phase of development, so make the tidying aspect fun, praise the helping ones. In the past I purchased some cheap cotton little bags for my reluctant helpers at tidy up time. They were responsible for collecting all the small items that had dropped on the floor. It worked wonders to get them into helping. I'm not a great fan of stickers persay, but sometimes the incentive to be a great helper can work. Lots of deep breaths often works too.:) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lsp Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Excuse my ignorance Fred bear, but what pray tell is a soft tuft??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stargrower Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 I think Fredbear means a Tuff Spot tray! ::1a Also known as a builder's tray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnyday Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Excuse my ignorance Fred bear, but what pray tell is a soft tuft??? I much prefer soft tuft to tuff spot and will henceforth use the term to describe my builder's tray :lol: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fredbear Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Ha ha well it was early. Yes I meant a soft tuff.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lsp Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 I'm also liking aforementioned term for builders tray! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apple Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 "less is more" approach as above Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trekker Posted February 6, 2016 Author Share Posted February 6, 2016 Thanks - tuff spot tray works to a degree...but need one for every activity! Already employ the 'less is more'...but in our teeny room its less is already too much I think. Will continue to persevere and reduce further...may take a leaf out of Montessori and present small selections on individual trays. Anyone have any good 'scattering' activities to support the schematic ones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lsp Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Agree, less is more and like it or not, it seems to be what 2 year olds like to do! Have you looked at the way staff deal with it when it happens? Needs to be consistent - it's quite interesting to see how many different ways adults ask children to put things away, clear up, pick up, tidy up time, sorting, sometimes there might be special music or instrument, sometimes not, and I'm sure others. It must be quite confusing for a young 2 year old especially if they may have limited language skills or its not something that happens at home. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thumperrabbit Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 - it's quite interesting to see how many different ways adults ask children to put things away, clear up, pick up, tidy up time, Do you know I'm going to listen out for that next week; that's a really good point in fact I think I probably say it in different ways myself. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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