2. Listening ears

3. Quiet mouth/inside voice

4. Helping Hands

5. Walking feet

Remember: Less is more! Young children can better remember and follow a small set of clear rules.

Review the rules daily
Reinforcing the rules every day helps children internalize them, making it easier for them to remember and follow throughout the day.

Additionally, while classroom rules are necessary to support children’s behavior, also be mindful that the rules don’t undermine different cultures of your families.

1️⃣ Ask the Kids – Start with a group discussion:
“How can we make our classroom fun and safe?”

2️⃣ Write Their Ideas – List their answers on a chart.

3️⃣ Guide Them – Turn their ideas into simple, positive rules:

• “No running” → “Walking Feet”

• “Don’t hit” → “Gentle Hands”

4️⃣ Make a Visual Chart – Use pictures of the kids or fun icons.

5️⃣ Practice & Praise – Act out the rules and celebrate when kids follow them!

Letting kids help create classroom rules makes them more engaged, encourages responsibility, and helps them understand expectations. It builds a positive classroom community, promotes critical thinking, and reduces behavior issues. Plus, they’re more likely to follow rules they helped create! 😊

2. Morning Meeting Introduction – Show the center and ask, “How can we use this space to have fun and be safe?” Guide kids toward key rules.

3. Model & Practice – Demonstrate the right way to use materials, take turns, and clean up. Have a few children role-play before opening the center.

4. Use Visual Reminders – Post simple picture cues at the center to reinforce expectations.

5. Reinforce & Praise – Watch how kids interact in the center and celebrate good choices: “I love how you’re using your inside voices in the library!”

6. Add a New Center Each Day – Once kids master one center, move on to the next, gradually building structure and routine across the classroom.

🔹 Expectations:
✔️ Build carefully and share blocks.
✔️ Use “gentle hands” (no throwing or knocking over others' towers).
✔️ Work together and take turns adding pieces.
✔️ Clean up when finished.

🔹 How to Teach It:

• Model building gently and asking a friend, “Can I add a block?”

• Role-play knocking over a tower and discuss how it feels.

• Praise kids for teamwork and careful building.

🔹Practice

• Inform kids that the teachers will be observing the block center that day and looking for good examples to take pictures of to hang up in the block area.

General Tips:

• Focus on "what to do": Instead of saying what not to do

• Keep it simple and clear: Use short, easy-to-understand sentences. 

• Use positive language: Avoid words like "no," "don't," or "stop".