It’s amazing how much time we adults spend sitting. Really – it’s pretty crazy when you compare US with a four year old. My kids almost NEVER sit for extended periods of time. If they are around friends who are also sitting, they might do so as well but they end up kneeling and bouncing or leaning their upper bodies entirely on the table top. Sitting just doesn’t come naturally, we learn how to do it! I’m a huge fan of going outside for our art and experiments, but sometimes you just need to sit at the table. So here are 3 ideas to get kids willingly sitting at the table!
1. Switch to sitting at the table at snack time
Set up your Read Together activities, your Connect-the-dots, or your letter tracing practice at the same time as you serve a snack! Its kind of ridiculous how powerful a plate of sliced banana with peanut butter (or any topping) is at getting the attention of little learners! Use their natural hunger drive to get their attention and gather them to you. Then while their mouths are busy show them the activity you want to do together! Model and explain while they eat. When they are filling their tummies they are more inclined to follow your lead!
2. Start out with some drum rolls
Sound is a powerful hook! Invite your kids to do a LOUD drum roll with their hands on the table then lower it to soft and then go loud again before asking them to stop. Explain the activity you want to do together and offer to do more sound activities as they complete different steps! When you turn a page in the book you are reading make a rising “whooooooop” sound together, or do another soft drumroll. Do the sounds they like to make and let them get loud as long as they sit well together!
3. Bring animals with you
Bring along a favorite character, or a new animal character, or a stuffed animal and arrange the animals to be sitting at the table. Get your kids to join their animal friends and let the animals be a part of your activity with imaginary conversations, with them as the models for completing any activities or tasks you have planned!
Keep in mind, kids are always going to have a varying range of attention spans! Sitting at the table and staying still is something even some adults struggle to do! Your child may be wired to be more active, so taking activities outside and sitting on blankets on the floor are all awesome ways to give them less structure while you introduce learning activities at home.