Welcome back to our multi-part series highlighting the powerful impact of our high-quality educational program at Westview! Today, we’re exploring Circle Time—a small but mighty part of our daily routine that helps build key school readiness skills.
In our youngest toddler group, Circle Time is a gentle introduction—usually just a short read-aloud with a few friends gathered on the rug. We model how to listen, look at pictures, and share space with peers, laying the foundation for group learning.
Circle Time becomes Morning Meeting! Children learn to greet one another, sing songs with motions, and answer simple “Question of the Day” prompts (“What’s your favorite color?”).This builds language skills, turn-taking, and self-regulation while starting to establish routines.
Now in a larger group, children practice sitting together a bit longer, participating in interactive stories and guided songs. We try to keep it short and lively—think flannel board stories, themed songs with props, and group movement activities—to match attention spans while boosting engagement and comprehension.
Here, Circle Time reflects kindergarten-style expectations. Children participate in calendarroutines, weather reports, longer group discussions, and even mini-lessons tied to thematicunits. We incorporate early literacy (letter sounds, rhyming), early math (counting days,patterns), and social-emotional learning (“How are you feeling today?”). Circle Time is aspringboard for developing listening skills, critical thinking, and classroom readiness.
At Westview Child Care Center, Circle Time is much more than sitting in a circle—it's astructured yet joyful moment each day that encourages connection, builds classroom culture,and prepares children for the academic and social world of kindergarten.
Our program is full at this time, but we have several spots anticipated in the Fall 2025!
Posted on April 16, 2025
by Katy Holzer
Like our page on Facebook to stay informed on the latest announcements and events.
