Arriving / circle time / show and tell

[Diana77]

We have been told that our show and tell time is to long (15 minutes). We do this at the start of the day and the children bring a toy with the same phonic sound of the week to show.

How do other settings do this? Do you even do show and tell or do you just go straight to free play?

Another problem is that some children arrive well before our 9 start and then have to sit around until other children arrive and we have finished setting up. I am of the opinion lock the door until 9 but have been told by the other 4 members of staff that this would be unwelcoming, am I right (honest opinions please). What do other settings do?

Really looking forward to your replies and ideas.

[Yazmin06]

In my child's school they do show and tell on a Friday only and they make it last longer then so a couple of children can show. Also we lock our doors until 9 if we didn't we would have parents dropping children off earlier and earlier every day I no it's not welcoming but unless you want children turning up at 8.30 it's the only way you can make a point.

[Air]

Hi
How old are the children?
We dont have a 'show and tell' as such, we do have a morning meeting, this is usually at 9am ish, we open the doors at 8.30am and children are free to play where they wish.
Also our meetings are a discussion about what is happening that day, what plans the children may have, what activities they want to continue with etc
Our 'show and tell' (its not about showing toys, but sharing a special event, or discovery on the way to Kindy or dance they may have learnt at ballet etc) will usually happen at the end of the day.
Children are allowed in earlier if parents have discussed this with the educators- school events, appointments etc.

[tutu]

lets look at it form the childrens point of view, they ve been up since 6 some earlier theyve been stuck indoors then done a school run and you think its a good isdea to sit them in a chair and make the sit still and listen to things other people think are interesting. booooorrrrinnnnngg who wants to look at someone elses snail shell when there is play to be done!
let them in when they arrive and let them play!

sharing time once a week for 15 mins or even better over snack of lunch when they are sitting down anyway.

as for phonics well how exciting. please tell me these aren't foundation stage children it is even more desperate if so. your job is to facilitate free flow interesting exploration and experimentation not teaching phonics or forcing a child to sit still and listen that comes later. if they ave something they desperately wanting to share then theyll find an adult to tell and share it