Training kids + tips for 6yo entertainment?

[macloudt]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., "Tabouli" <tabouli at u...> wrote:
> I may have to work with this group of kids again in a few months, 
and may of course have a similar problem with this or any other group 
with young children, and I mused that my wise friends on HPFGU, among 
whom parents and teachers and Guide leaders lurk, might have some 
tips on teaching technique, how to keep children under 7 or 8 
entertained in this sort of situation, and some handy hints on 
discipline... I did OK at first with stern admonishments to sit down 
please and stop hitting your brother, but he got progressively harder 
and harder to control as he grew more bored (fatal), and my 
suggestions for what he could do while we were talking got closer and 
closer to the bottom of the barrel.
> 
> Any wise words?
> 
> Tabouli.
 

First of all, well done :)  Getting as far as you did with such an 
age variation in one group--especially siblings!!--was no mean feat.  
Glad to hear that your HP knowledge came in handy.

As for the little chap, well he can't be expected to just sit there 
and behave as the others did, as well you know.  My suggestions would 
be to let him out of the room to go to his parents at regular 
intervals (arrange this beforehand with his folks so they're always 
on standby), give him some one-to-one while the other kids either 
have an activity or a break, and simply accept the fact (as you 
already have) that his behaviour won't be up to that of his 
siblings.  Don't forget, he's testing you to see how far he can push 
you, so well done for the stern admonishments.  Goodness knows what 
his behaviour would have been like if you'd been soft with him 
("Phwah!  This one's a pushover.  Let's have some fun!").  Just work 
with his attention span (which actually sounds pretty good for a 6-
year-old boy!) and as much as possible let him be directly involved.  

I'm sure all of us who work with kids in any capacity have some 
little "darlings" we could ship over to you (in a cardboard box) for 
a course in Advanced Brat Training.  But then we like you too much to 
do something like that :)  Oh, and also, remember that, though he may 
not look like he's paying attention, he's probably soaked up 
everything you've been teaching them.  They're good at that.

Must be off to prepare lunch.

Cheers!

Mary Ann
(whose eldest of 3 kids isn't even 5 yet!  AAAARRRGH!!!)