I recently shared a post with Six Easy Steps help improve your clean-up time for the most challenging children. Today I want to talk about a different group of children. Let’s have a little chat about the majority of the children in your preschool classroom. These are the children who get right to work during choice time, they transition easily, and they clean-up as soon as they are told. Let’s talk about the children who have the most developmentally appropriate skills.
Recently, I have been reflecting on some of our practices in early childhood and the impact they have on the engagement and regulation of children. One of those specific practices I am curious about is the practice of giving the 5 minute warning before cleaning up at choice time.
It is a VERY common practice for preschool classrooms to have a signal or a job in their classroom that warns children that they will begin to clean up in five more minutes. These signals range from the teacher flashing the lights and having everyone stop to a child walking around with a warning sign that says 5 minutes, 4 minutes, 3 minutes, 2 minutes, 1 minute–clean-up.
The more I am in classrooms coaching preschool teachers, the more I observe how disruptive this practice can be. What I notice is that when the signal is given it creates disengagement for many of the children who may have been totally engrossed in their play activities. Now with five minutes remaining, they begin to display anxious behavior. As a result, this last five minutes of “play” becomes quite a zoo.
The five minute signal is such a common practice, but I’m wondering if it is really founded in solid research and best practice. Is it truly necessary for ALL children. Children with developmentally appropriate skills, who are engaging appropriately in play really don’t need that warning. Could it be that a different type of signal and slowing of play would be more appropriate for the majority of children?
Yes, it is true. There are children that have delays and specific needs which require some preparation and warning before clean-up. We focus on those children quite frequently around here. But does every child need that or could we just address those warnings with specific children?
Several years ago I met a teacher that changed the language she used during her five minute signal and it had a transformational impact. Instead of warning the children that they had “five minutes to clean-up” she reminded them that they had “five more minutes to play.” The truth be told, a preschool child doesn’t know what “five more minutes” means anyway. Unless you give them a visual tool to actually see how much time that is, these are wasted words. You might as well make a broad statement such as, “it is almost time to clean-up.”
I love the shift in the language and the intention of the teacher when she says, “five more minutes to play.” Basically, she is preparing them and letting them know that if they wanted to do anything else, now is the time. It also puts a positive spin on a transition that can cause a bit of angst for children. It also helps to scaffold the development of Executive Skills. This is a good opportunity to help children plan or prioritize how they will spend the rest of their time. It is a great time to help develop some empathy among children as they may be willing to let a child who wants a turn with a specific item have a turn before the time is all gone. When we focus on what we have “five more minutes to play” it helps us see possibility.
Even as I write this, I realize that when I give the five minute warning, although I am attempting to be proactive, I am also bracing myself for the whirlwind that clean-up time creates. I wonder if I made this shift in my intention, practice, and language if my whole state would shift. Imagine the impact that would have on the children! My state dictates their state so this could be very powerful!
If you want to create a more conscious clean-up time I have a few steps that will help you get started and a free printable. (click for file)
- Choose a song that is a relaxing and beautiful song. One that delights the senses. There are so many to choose from, but one suggestion would be “Rainbow Connection” by Willie Nelson.
- Teach the children that when the music begins to play, that is your signal that they have a little more time to play. They can continue to play where they are, or make final choices.
- When the music stops, turn off the lights. Have everyone stop what they are doing and put their hands on their heads. Announce, “Hands on top, everybody stop.”
- Take a few deep breaths to give everyone the time to stop what they are doing. Stopping can be hard.
- Commit to cleaning up what is in your area.
- When finished cleaning, have the children go to the rug where you have some small fidgets, books, and calming activities for them to do while they wait for their friends to finish cleaning.
- When everyone is done and arrives at the rug, take a moment to celebrate how they contributed to creating a safe and happy classroom environment. Make ending a joyful time!
- Now you have time to reflect on what they did during their choice time and share as a community before moving on to the next activity. You could even allow them to think ahead to tomorrow and how they may continue what they did today or even try something different. Think of how you might include some journaling or other literacy building activities in this space.