Children tend to do better when they are well fed and rested. A snack and a nap prior to class (when you can make it happen) is a good idea.
If your child is not developmentally mature enough to participate in an activity (i.e., he/she doesn’t have the language or motor skills to sing or coordinate small or big movement exercises) DON'T WORRY! Just model for him/her even if he/she appears distracted. Children are typically absorbing way more then we give them credit for. Even though it may feel silly to wave your arm around hailing a taxi while your 13 month old is playing with a shoe on the other side of the room, just DO IT and every now and then try to bring them back into the group/activity. In no time, they will be doing all the movements for songs at home you were convinced they were not paying attention to in class.
Children, especially 0-2, have the natural inclination to explore EVERYTHING. It is ok for them to wander about the environment. Trust us, they are absorbing A LOT and it’s ALL GOOD!
If your child is older and you are working on helping him/her to develop more self-control, better listening skills, and the ability to consistently follow directions, you might consider prepping your child before class by reminding him/her of the structure of the class (ex: First we sit on the rug and sing the hello song, then we’ll sing some quiet songs before we stand up and run around, etc) as well as setting some behavioral expectations. It is also OK to give a warning for behavior that is disruptive or dangerous and then take your child out of the class for a few minutes if he or she is unable to follow through with your directives. Often times, kids just need a break to refocus. If you feel unclear about whether your child’s behavior is disruptive or confused about how to handle a certain behavior your child is presenting in class, PLEASE talk to us. Every child is unique and we will support you in every way we can to help your child get the most out of the class and have the class be a positive growth experience for him or her.
