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Art of Redirection
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When I was a babysitter, I had to watch 4 kids. They would fight over toys a lot, I used redirection by offering other toys and asking if we can take turns and share.
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Great job, Laila! Your use of redirection and offering alternatives not only minimized conflicts but also encouraged sharing and cooperation among the children. Keep fostering those essential communication skills!
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I work with kids in water. That being said, it can be challenging to regulate a child when they’re in a new environment, such as water, which is cold, wet, and even worrying about me letting go and them drifting away. Working to make the child feel they are safe. A kid can be redirected into a safe thought by asking about something the child may like or is familiar with. I have personally used things like pets, the color of the ceiling or even what they ate today!
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Morgan, your insights into using redirection in a challenging environment like water are commendable! Engaging children with familiar topics is a creative strategy that fosters communication and helps them feel secure. Great job!
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I often have to redirect a child in my class who becomes upset and overwhelmed when other children do not follow the rules or do not listen to directions; he will physically attack them by pulling them down/scratching/hitting. I redirect him to a different activity or area away from the other child to prevent a physical altercation. I am usually able to see when the child become triggered and step in before his behavior affects another child.
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Emily, your proactive approach to redirection is commendable! Recognizing triggers and providing alternative activities not only prevents conflicts but also supports emotional regulation in young children. Great job!
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A time that I used redirection was when 4 children wanted to play with the same toys when it’s just a two person play. I got out different toys and said that I would put a timer and we could take turns with the toys. Putting a timer really helps.
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Great example, Tatiana! Using a timer for turn-taking not only promotes sharing but also teaches patience. Your creative approach to redirection is effective in fostering positive interactions among children.
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<strong data-start=”73″ data-end=”126″>A time redirection helped avoid behavioral issues<br data-start=”126″ data-end=”129″> During free-play time, two toddlers both wanted the same truck and were starting to get upset—raised voices, grabbing, and tears building fast. Instead of focusing on the conflict, I calmly stepped in and redirected their attention. I acknowledged their feelings (“You both really want the truck”) and then offered an alternative by introducing a ramp nearby and saying, Let’s see how many cars can go down this ramp together. By redirecting their focus, the situation de-escalated without a meltdown, and both children stayed engaged and happy.<strong data-start=”769″ data-end=”862″>Creative methods for teaching effective communication (while sharing is still developing)<br data-start=”862″ data-end=”865″> Because young children are still learning the concept of sharing, I focus on teaching communication and turn-taking rather than expecting perfect sharing right away. I model simple phrases. Visual cues, such as timers or songs, help children understand when a turn will end. I also narrate social situations out loud You’re waiting for a turn. That’s hard, but you’re doing it to give children language for their feelings.
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Great job, Kortnee! Your approach to redirection during conflict is commendable, and your focus on modeling communication and using visual cues effectively supports young children’s social development. Keep up the fantastic work!
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One time in my 2’s class this kiddo we had would have constant fits everyday which involved throwing things. Instead of getting upset with them I redirected them to our calm down center and allowed them to hit the pillow instead. This allowed the other kids to remain safe from the objects being thrown and it still allowed the kiddo to express his anger without causing harm to anyone.
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Megan, your approach to redirection is commendable! Creating a calm down center not only ensures safety but also teaches effective emotional expression. Great job fostering a supportive environment for all children!
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once a 4 year old boy in my class was upset because I asked him to cleanup the work .we have to start our work cycle time. He started to throw toys to all over classes. I started to sing cleanup song with other students in my class and started to clean the toys with them .after sometime he came to me and started to clean up the toys he was throwing.. my way of redirecting them I started singing different songs related to the activities which make them happy and they work nicely after.
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Great job, Mudita! Your use of a cleanup song not only redirected the child’s behavior but also engaged the entire class in a positive way. This approach fosters a joyful learning environment while teaching communication and cooperation. Keep it up!
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I use redirection all the time. One example is when a child wants a toy that another child has. I will explain. First it is their turn, then when they drop it, it will be your turn. While we wait for your friend to drop the toy do you want to find a different toy to play with? I will help them select another activity or toy. And I will keep my eye on the coveted toy. When the other student drops the toy I will remind the child they may have their turn now..
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Levana, your approach to redirection is commendable! By guiding children to wait and offering alternatives, you foster patience and creative play. This method effectively supports their developing communication skills. Great job!
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One time I had this student that had anxity about being at childcare and wouldn’t want me to leave the room. I wasn’t the teacher but I’m the program supervior so I gave her love and reansurance that her mom would be back as soon as she could. I gave her one of by old teacher badges that made her feel better as I had to leave her. One afternoon she was upset and wanted me to find her mommy so I told her while she played with her friends and had a fun time. I would keep a look out for when her mom got there and make sure she knew what classroom she was in so she was safe. This still helps ease her mind and 1 year later she still asks me to keep a look out for her mom / dad.
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Great job, Donna! Your thoughtful approach to redirection and reassurance not only alleviated the child’s anxiety but also fostered trust and communication. Keep up the wonderful work in supporting young children’s emotional needs!
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working with two-year-olds, i tend to see a lot of issues with sharing and a few of the main redirection strategies i use with my students are, timers, asking them other questions to gauge what other toys they may want to play with in the meantime, or simple redirection by GIVING them a toy that is either extremely similar or essentially the same and telling my students that they now match instead! the timers can be very useful for my students who will simply follow the other child around (even with other direction) until they either drop the toy (…or they end up trying to take it again). it also works with my students with big feelings about sharing as a whole.
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Isabella, your strategies for redirection are insightful and practical! Using timers and matching toys creatively addresses sharing issues while fostering communication skills. Great job adapting to their needs!
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i agree
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Thank you for your response, Stephanie! Your agreement highlights the importance of shared experiences in managing behavior. I’d love to hear more about your thoughts or examples on redirection!
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I redirect often when children are lined up to go outside. They try to run into the office area. I redirect them back to the line by engaging them in songs and pretending to be animals. The more fun you make transitions the easier it will be and it will lesson behaviors such as pushing while they wait in line.
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Great job, Jessica! Your use of songs and playful animal movements as redirection strategies is a creative way to engage children during transitions. It not only fosters effective communication but also makes waiting enjoyable!
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I have this student that cries for most of the day for her parents, we were able to redirect for a bit by making a schedule with pictures of how the day was going to go, but it did not work for too long. Recently, we talked with the parent and let her know about what was going on, what we had tried and asked if they could suggest other things to help her child through the day. The next day the child came with a photo book that had pictures of her family and events that she loved the most, this has been helping us a lot when it came to redirecting her whenever she cries due to missing her parents and has made things easier for her when it comes to regulating her emotions.
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Jenn, your approach to using a visual schedule and collaborating with the parent is commendable! The addition of the photo book is a wonderful strategy for emotional regulation. Great job fostering communication and support!
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We were transitioning to go outside, and instead of keeping in line like we almost always managed to, they were running around and hitting each other. I caught their attention by saying…. if you are strong just jump jump jump, following by freeze, they all got engaged and the transition was fun and successful.
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Great job, Mauren! Your use of movement and playful instructions effectively redirected their energy. This not only made the transition engaging but also reinforced positive behavior. Keep up the creative strategies!
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I recently had a child that continually wanted to jump onto their friends and in doing so would knock them down. I redirected them to flopping onto a soft mat so that they could continue that physical movement they enjoyed without hurting anyone else. I also made sure that I was there to observe them and give them the attention it seemed they might need. I’ve learned the “sportscaster” way of talking in my classroom. I talk about what I’m doing and how I’m feeling and also narrate what’s happening in the classroom, especially when it comes to the children getting upset or frustrated with each other. I model naming feelings with them so it’s easier for them to understand how they’re feeling, and then work with them to find a way to redirect those emotions or calm down together.
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Great job, Sam! Your use of redirection to channel physical energy safely is commendable. The “sportscaster” technique is a fantastic way to model communication and emotional awareness for young children. Keep it up!
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