News

Clear the decks

How do you encourage a tired child to join in at tidy-up time? Denise Bailey offers some practical tips 'Time to tidy up' are words that can strike dread into the heart of even the most positive and experienced of early years practitioners. Every day and, for some of us, twice a day, that time arrives - and it arrives when everyone is tired and grumpy.

'Time to tidy up' are words that can strike dread into the heart of even the most positive and experienced of early years practitioners. Every day and, for some of us, twice a day, that time arrives - and it arrives when everyone is tired and grumpy.

Most practitioners will recognise the following scenario: staff race around washing paint pots, tidying table-top activities, trying to find all the jigsaw pieces, sweeping up the sand, tracking down lumps of dough and returning home corner items scattered throughout the setting.

Meanwhile the children continue playing, hide, lie under tables pretending to pick up pencils, 'busy' themselves transporting pieces of Lego across the setting or read a book and ignore the mayhem. And there is usually someone lying on the carpet waving their feet in the air saying 'I can't do it, my legs won't work - look.'

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

  • Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month

  • Unlimited access to news and opinion

  • Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here