This past fall we decided to add circle time to our daily rhythm. Circle time is simply a gathering time at the beginning of the day in which to sing, read poetry, do fingerplays and incorporate movement.
I have always felt that it would be a good idea for my littles to have some sort of organized activity before I start tablework with the school aged children. Circle time takes about twenty minutes to a half hour each morning. I try to alternate songs that are lively with much movement with those that are quieter and slower. This seems to keep the children's attention quite well.
Last fall, I arranged a repertoire for the children. We ended up repeating the same song list for the months of September, October and November. I intended to arrange something for Advent and Christmas but it fell by the wayside.
I will include a few songs, a poem, a fingerplay and a hymn each time I come up with a new list. Below is what I have planned for the remainder of winter, until late March.
I read somewhere that it is important for the children that the list of songs, etc. remains the same for several weeks or even months before changing to a new list. Small children love consistency and find much comfort in repetition.
Christopher sits in on circle time so I have tried to add several songs that would appeal to him as well as my toddler/preschool daughters.
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Light a candle
Say Morning Prayer "Dear Lord Jesus, I give you today, all that I think and do and say."
Today is: (Day and Date)
A Ram Sam Sam
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Fingerplay: Itsy Bitsy Spider
March: When Johnny Comes Marching Home
The Wheels on the Bus
I'm a Little Teapot
Peas Porridge Hot, lyrics and some history
Hot Cross Buns, words and history
Yankee Doodle
Poem: Read aloud My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson (After several weeks of reading the same poem each morning, the children will naturally have it memorized, without intending to do so. School aged children can illustrate the poem in a poetry book.)
Hymn: O Lord I am not Worthy
Closing Prayer: May my hands work with care, my heart work with love and my mind work with attention. Amen.
Have a child blow out the candle.
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If you are interested in beginning a gathering/circle time in the morning with your children, choose a few folk or nursery songs that you'd like them to learn, a poem perhaps and a fingerplay. Start small. Don't be afraid that you do not have a nice singing voice. Your children will not notice or care. They will have fond memories of spending time in song and play with their mother and siblings.
Have a wonderful day today!
