tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5600619126692959890.post2014256874511328564..comments2024-03-25T03:38:50.315-04:00Comments on Bending Birches: Some tough questions..Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5600619126692959890.post-63802967854513265612011-09-06T02:14:40.821-04:002011-09-06T02:14:40.821-04:00Sometimes with kids that will not put things in th...Sometimes with kids that will not put things in their mouths (3 year olds plus?) I let children have some beeswax to warm in their hands while I tell the story, then we move off (to a table or other area) and use it to model something simple once the story is over. It often helps little hands not to wander or want to play with props, and gives a quiet end activity to the story while the children digest what they have seen and heard. As they are finished (some immediately, others may take some time) they drift off into other play again more harmoniously than if the story finishes and then nothing planned follows.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5600619126692959890.post-26548772558325711332011-08-31T16:32:07.134-04:002011-08-31T16:32:07.134-04:00you are an awesome mama to W. you are clearly wor...you are an awesome mama to W. you are clearly working so hard to maintain that work-life balance. i totally understand that. thank you for the commitments you have made.gunter famhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11233658052526882114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5600619126692959890.post-18911029703712003572011-08-31T10:15:41.272-04:002011-08-31T10:15:41.272-04:00Thank you for addressing this! I have three childr...Thank you for addressing this! I have three children under 5...and it used to be that we were the ones disrupting story times, etc. I would give in to pressure from other parents and friends to join them in whatever activity it was, regardless of the little voice that was telling me my kids weren't ready/wouldn't be interested/would be tired/hungry. Now, I avoid those activities. We only commit to activities when I really feel in my heart it will be a pleasant time for my boys...of course, even then it can go wrong, and in those cases, I try to remember that the situation is only temporary. And when we are at events where it is someone else's child being disruptive, I usually offer to give the mom a hand with her other little ones, so she can help her distracted child and not feel quite so stressed and mortified. Again, thank you for addressing this. I am new to your blog and LOVE it.RainbowBirthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05408786385977464409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5600619126692959890.post-67206405814584775402011-08-31T02:19:46.793-04:002011-08-31T02:19:46.793-04:00Great post!Great post!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759794699782531295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5600619126692959890.post-26182258785215746612011-08-30T12:57:30.456-04:002011-08-30T12:57:30.456-04:00I think if you simply follow your child's lead...I think if you simply follow your child's lead and engage them in activities that are age appropriate the activities are far less frustrating. If a show is scheduled for a longer period of time that your child can sit quietly engaged then choose another activity that they more are able to succeed in. If they love to run and climb then take them to a safe venue for that kind of activity. Everyone then leaves the outing feeling happy and refreshed.<br />We have been to many activities with our children where there were children participating that were simply not ready. The mother is usually pacing the back of the room completely stressed, now having to calm her crying infant who feels this tension, and I felt so sad for them as it all could have been avoided. I know it is more difficult when you have children of different ages but that's when a special 'date' with only one child works very well.<br />I too find that lowering my body to the child's level and speaking in a quiet voice to them, or a gentle touch on the arm works far better at getting their attention than shouting. Unfortunately there are moments when it is necessary to raise my voice (usually for safety reasons) but I am still very uncomfortable doing it! Singing is a fantastic method but sadly I was not equipped with vocal chords that are easily controlled! ;o)<br />So sorry about the blow out intermission Rebecca! Another great post!<br />xoxo<br />~ joey ~Joeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01445299359657183179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5600619126692959890.post-18938729980105394922011-08-30T09:13:44.544-04:002011-08-30T09:13:44.544-04:00What a great answer. This really helps me to thin...What a great answer. This really helps me to think about what our story time should look like as I have a 2 year old. I love the soft voice idea.<br /><br />Thanks! <br /><br />BeccaMamaWestWindhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00996457187534317776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5600619126692959890.post-87022819361175069942011-08-30T08:36:02.581-04:002011-08-30T08:36:02.581-04:00I'm glad to hear from other posters that this ...I'm glad to hear from other posters that this is normal behavior for the age and that the storyteller just goes on with the story when little ones are disruptive. Perhaps, since I was with my little ones during the disruption, I interfered too soon and my trying to redirect them was the true distraction? I like the idea of a designated story time doll!<br />Thank you all for the responses!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5600619126692959890.post-13369947842127897232011-08-30T08:29:07.186-04:002011-08-30T08:29:07.186-04:00I really appreciated knowing your approach to this...I really appreciated knowing your approach to this situation as my daughter is 18 months and I am often in similar situations...I often find it hard to be patient though.Laurahttp://quailsinthebushes.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5600619126692959890.post-48244375590262077712011-08-30T07:07:27.366-04:002011-08-30T07:07:27.366-04:00Beautiful answer. Still learning myself. Would a s...Beautiful answer. Still learning myself. Would a small story time doll designated to be held in little hands during story time help or would that be more disruptive? Take care.Appleshoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17784996670449237303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5600619126692959890.post-26786237935146675512011-08-29T23:05:55.820-04:002011-08-29T23:05:55.820-04:00Good answers! W's hair is getting so long. W...Good answers! W's hair is getting so long. We miss you guys!Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12921794837544715682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5600619126692959890.post-23300115400177892642011-08-29T22:38:22.062-04:002011-08-29T22:38:22.062-04:00I am surprised to hear that Anonymous' child w...I am surprised to hear that Anonymous' child was the only one interrupting. I took my daughter who is 2.5 to the story time at her Waldorf School this summer and found that many children were distracting and interrupting. The storytellers seemed to ignore the problems and move on with the story. I learned to sit us up front so there was a chance of her hearing the story and not be so distracted.Carriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13378815791158272858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5600619126692959890.post-89196269440832239962011-08-29T22:37:10.010-04:002011-08-29T22:37:10.010-04:00I think you answered the question beautifully. If ...I think you answered the question beautifully. If i might just add; <br />I am a Early Childhood Waldorf certified teacher, and was a teacher in a class with 3 year olds for many years. the three year old children I taught were very young for a table-top puppet show, (until the end of the year.) Mostly, I would do simple, short, finger puppet shows, half in song, half in rhyme. And after doing the same show for a week, I would let the children gently touch the puppets at the end of story time, and sometimes, we would dress up and act it out. Generally, this age is so young to do many of the activities with the kind of reverence a 6 year old has. Mostly, the little ones want to play, and sit in a lap, and hear a story. The time when they sit still and watch a puppet show will come. but, if it doesn't come, it is ok. some children simply cannot keep their bodies still. Just as some adults can't! I hate to see children be forced to keep still and sit through something, and the whole time they are concentrating on keeping still, and not on the story. They would be better off running around outside.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03368286353658910925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5600619126692959890.post-47675894988334259972011-08-29T22:04:46.450-04:002011-08-29T22:04:46.450-04:00I can't help but look here and wonder...does W...I can't help but look here and wonder...does W ever push you passed a sing-song voice? How do you deal when you feel you're going to explode? Or does he just not get you to that point???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5600619126692959890.post-2125464150597926042011-08-29T22:01:06.030-04:002011-08-29T22:01:06.030-04:00THank you kindly for taking the time to respond to...THank you kindly for taking the time to respond to this question. I appologize for bringing my parenting struggle to your blog. You seem to do such lovely work with your little one/s. I look to you in admiration!<br />Much apprciated!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5600619126692959890.post-82572967667821720372011-08-29T17:37:44.834-04:002011-08-29T17:37:44.834-04:00I think you answered that tough question beautiful...I think you answered that tough question beautifully. I especially love your suggestion about using a soft voice so the children will listen.. keeping my voice soft is such a struggle. And I LOVE those puppetry aprons!Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14509321668018756288noreply@blogger.com