Beth, I appreciate that you're looking for research to dispel the notion that the little ones must learn to sit for endless minutes in order to be ready for kindergarten. i just find the whole topic so frustrating!
Personally, if I were forced to sit "crisscross-applesauce," hands in my lap and back straight, for more than a single minute I would lose my mind. And I would like to think I have more self-control than most 4-year-olds.
We now have so much research showing that sitting does NOT equal learning. Further, there is research on fidgeting demonstrating that many children MUST move in order to concentrate. When we demand that they sit still, they're using all of their energy to focus on that demand.
Yes, they will have to sit still at desks when they get to kindergarten and beyond (although that's due more to "how it's always been done" than to research and common sense). But they'll also have to learn to drive when they're teenagers. Does that mean we should put them behind the wheel now, in preparation for that?
My wish is that everyone would appreciate the developmental stage their children are in. Imagine how much more focused and engaged toddlers and preschoolers would be if we let them listen to a story while sitting any way that's comfortable to them, or while lying or standing!
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Rae Pica
Rae Pica Keynotes & Consulting
Alexandria VA
www.raepica.com------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 09-25-2018 09:35 AM
From: Elizabeth Menninga
Subject: Morning Circle Time
I have heard people talk about maximum seated time for each age group (based on brain development/executive function studies etc.) but cannot seem to find the citation. Has anyone seen an actual research based article about this?
In my search, I have found advice from the field on maximum seated time but they ranged from 1 minute per year of age (so 3 minutes for 3 year olds etc.) to 5 minutes per age (which would be 15 minutes for 3 year olds). While I don't think it is an exact science, I was looking for guidance to discourage attempts to make children sit for long periods in the mistaken belief that this represents "kindergarten readiness" (for example, a coach in our program was proudly told by a director, "Our three year olds sit for 30 minutes at circle time every day!")
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Beth Menninga
St. Paul, MN
Original Message:
Sent: 09-16-2018 11:34 AM
From: Lydia Sussman
Subject: Morning Circle Time
Hello fellow teachers,
i am a professor for early childhood special ed and am trying to help my students find ways to stay away from developmentally inappropriate "calendar time." Looking for unique ways to hold a morning meeting using age appropriate ideas to discuss days, yesterday, Today and tomorrow, as well as fun things to do at morning gathering. Special ed classes, in particular, seem stuck in an old inappropriate model for pre school classes. Thank you.
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Lydia Sussman
Adjunct Professor
Cal Lutheran University
Studio City CA
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