How to Establish Classroom Management in Daycare and Preschools - Tips and Strategies

Feb 1

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If you are running a childcare center or starting a daycare, classroom management is a key element of daycare and preschool teaching.

Effective classroom management can make the difference between a chaotic daycare or preschool environment and one that fosters learning and growth.

Before we get started , If you're new here, My name is Dena, and I have been a center director for 21 years and love what I do, but it is WORK! My goal is to help other providers with their child care programs and help relieve the stress that the daycare world brings.

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Here are some tips to help daycare and preschool teachers manage their classrooms.

Create a welcoming environment
Creating an inviting and safe environment can help daycare children or preschoolers feel comfortable in the classroom.
Offer Warm greetings each day. Greet each child with a warm smile and voice to ensure they feel safe and welcome.
Make sure plenty of toys and educational materials are available for children to explore, as well as open spaces for movement and playtime. Create centers or stations to give preschoolers more ownership of their learning.
Make sure each child has their own labeled cubby or space for their personal belongings to give them a sense of ownership and security.
Display photos of the children and their families. If possible, take photos during an open house or home visits before the first day of school. Or ask families to share some of their own family photos. Post photos on cubbies and at children’s eye level throughout the room. When children see the photos, they will feel connected to their families during the day.
Establish consistent routines and schedules
Establishing a consistent daily routine and schedule allows daycare and preschool children to develop a sense of predictability and makes transitions easier. As a result, it can be easier for children to manage their behavior and stay focused on learning. You can grab my free daily schedules here.
Establish clear expectations
It's important to make expectations clear to the children verbally and through visual cues like signs or posters. This can help daycare and preschool teachers better manage disruptive behavior and ensure that all students are on the same page with classroom rules.
Here are a few examples of preschool classroom rules:
-Looking Eyes
-Listening Ears
-Walking Feet
-Quiet Voices
-Helping Hands
Set up group activities
Group activities help preschoolers develop social skills, work together as a team, and follow directions. Setting up group activities also allows daycare and preschool teachers to focus on individual students who may need extra guidance or support.
Make connections with each child
Make sure daycare or preschool teachers are attentive to each child in the classroom. This could be through one-on-one conversations, small group work, or individualized instruction. Giving children individual attention can help keep them engaged and motivated. When speaking with a child one-on-one, kneel down to their level, look them in the eyes, and use heart-felt words of encouragement. Show sincere interest in what they have to say.
Use Positive Discipline
When managing a daycare or preschool classroom, it is important to use positive discipline techniques over punitive ones. Encourage children to practice self-discipline by providing clear expectations and rewarding good behavior.
Positive reinforcement is one of the most effective ways to encourage desired behavior from daycare and preschool students. Verbal praise and rewards charts, stickers or tokens can encourage children to make good decisions. A treasure box filled with goodies is also a great way to incentivize good choices.
Understand behavior patterns
It's important for daycare and preschool teachers to understand the typical development stages of young children, including common triggers for disruptive behaviors.
Observe and record when undesirable behavior is occurring. Take a few days and use a behavior documentation form to write down the behavior, the time it happens, and what activity the child participates in.
What was going on in the classroom? Did the behavior happen during center time? Transition time? Circle time? Etc. What strategy or redirection technique was used for the behavior, and how did the child react to the strategy? Tracking the behavior will give insight into the triggers. For example, does Johnny only hit when he is in centers? Maybe sharing toys is a trigger to his behavior.
This understanding can help daycare and preschool teachers know how to respond when behavior issues arise and come up with a plan of action. Be sure to inform parents and get them involved.
You may want to use a behavior chart to give to parents to communicate about their child's day. Have them reinforce the techniques at home.
If you want to learn more about dealing with challenging behavior read my article, How To Handle Challenging Behavior in Young Children here.
Encourage Self-Regulation
Provide preschoolers with opportunities to practice self-regulation, such as calming exercises and deep breathing techniques. This will help them better manage their emotions and behavior in the classroom. Use emotions flash cards or have an angry poster on the wall to teach children about their emotions and feelings.
I recommend using the Conscious Discipline program as it equips educators to integrate social-emotional learning, discipline, and self-regulation to spend less time policing behavior and more time teaching vital life skills.
Have a plan and a curriculum to follow
Have a plan for each day and have materials ready to engage children. Do not "wing it"! Children will know when teachers don't have a plan and will act out.
One of the best ways to plan is to use a curriculum. There are many to choose from, such as HighScope, FunShine Express, and Mother Goose Time, to name a few.
Planning the curriculum ahead of time and being prepared is essential for daycare or preschool teachers. Ensure preschoolers have a daily schedule, clear expectations, and plenty of engaging activities to keep them occupied throughout the day.
Stay positive and patient
Finally, daycare and preschool educators must remember to stay positive and patient with young children. Preschoolers are learning how to interact with others, manage their emotions, and control their behavior. It’s completely developmentally appropriate and is no easy task!

Conclusion:

By following these tips, daycare and preschool teachers can successfully manage their classrooms. With effective classroom management, childcare programs can create a positive learning environment that will benefit preschoolers in the long term.

Starting a daycare or childcare center is an important endeavor. With proper training and experience, daycare and preschool owners can be sure their daycares provide a safe, nurturing, and fun environment for children to learn and grow.

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