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'scatterers'


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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:.​

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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.:):):)

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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?

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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.

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