How to get a young child to stay seated! Options

[Digby]

How far along is this student?

I have a young lad who also doesn't like sitting still for a while so we do stood up work as well as sat down work

I take the piano stool away while he finds all the sets of two black notes and 3 black notes on the piano this will progress eventually to finding all of the notes - then we progress this, still standing up to do 'steady crotchets' so finding any sets of black notes bashing them alternating between left and right hand, keeping them steady.

Then we'll do more stood up rhythm work with me playing and him either marching or banging a drum.

When it comes to starting to look at the tutor book, we'll do the rhythm and sing the song without him sitting down.

Then we will move onto focused sat down work, making a game out of how relaxed and still our body can be while making really nice piano hand shapes.

By this point we've usually covered all the rhythm work needed for any pieces and its time to play.

I also find that in some cases they tend to fidget less when they know exactly what they have to do/play, the fidgeting is sometimes but not always a defence mechanism to divert attention away from them getting it wrong.

[morceau]

How far along is this student?

I have a young lad who also doesn't like sitting still for a while so we do stood up work as well as sat down work

I take the piano stool away while he finds all the sets of two black notes and 3 black notes on the piano this will progress eventually to finding all of the notes - then we progress this, still standing up to do 'steady crotchets' so finding any sets of black notes bashing them alternating between left and right hand, keeping them steady.

Then we'll do more stood up rhythm work with me playing and him either marching or banging a drum.

When it comes to starting to look at the tutor book, we'll do the rhythm and sing the song without him sitting down.

Then we will move onto focused sat down work, making a game out of how relaxed and still our body can be while making really nice piano hand shapes.

By this point we've usually covered all the rhythm work needed for any pieces and its time to play.

I also find that in some cases they tend to fidget less when they know exactly what they have to do/play, the fidgeting is sometimes but not always a defence mechanism to divert attention away from them getting it wrong.

I agree with Digby. I have one who is a real wriggler. She regularly tips the stool over completely! It seems to be from excitement rather than lack of concentration, I don't want to dampen her enthusiasm so I just keep the activities mixed around as Digby describes, and keep a firm hold on the stool when I remember. She has just turned 7, so I'm sure she will be growing out of it someday soon. Hopefully, before she knocks a tooth out on my keys.

[Bagpuss]

How about, in a firm, Bag-Like tone, "put BOTH halves of your bottom on that stool"? I use "magic glue" - works a treat.

Bx

[Cyrilla]

I use a Paddington Stare and a firm Cyrilla-like tone. When you deal with classes of 36 all-comers in some tough schools, you don't pussy-foot around, I'm afraid...

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[Sunrise]

How about, in a firm, Bag-Like tone, "put BOTH halves of your bottom on that stool"? I use "magic glue" - works a treat.

Bx

Gaffer tape??? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Roseau]

I use a Paddington Stare and a firm Cyrilla-like tone. When you deal with classes of 36 all-comers in some tough schools, you don't pussy-foot around, I'm afraid...

I have also taught in schools and it is true that you can't allow whole classes to get up and walk around but they are not necessarily sitting down and sitting still - you still have them fidgeting with something. It used to drive me mad having a fidgeter in the front row when I was writing on the blackboard but I could cope with them being "quiet fidgets" a bit further back. In a one-to-one situation you are inevitably going to have the fidget right beside you.

Some children do genuinely find it very hard to sit still and I think they are not always aware of moving. Most will eventually develop coping strategies (my husband still finds it hard to sit still and people are often taken aback by him sitting on the floor rather than a chair but in fact people aren't aware of him changing position all the time if he is sitting on the floor whereas they are if he is on a chair).

My daughter used to come home from school and run round in circles in the garden for about 15 minutes before she was capable of sitting down inside. I always used to walk with her to her piano lesson, even if it was pouring with rain, when she was little because I knew she had to use up some energy before she got there.

And yes, they do improve with age...

[jod]

The ability to look over the top of ones glasses and say

" put your bottom here, and keep it here...NOW" is very useful. I don't worry who a child is (I've had to tell some very important children this) or whether they are bigger than me (Age is irrellevant).

Just sound like you mean it and expect to be obeyed.

[willobie]

How about, in a firm, Bag-Like tone, "put BOTH halves of your bottom on that stool"? I use "magic glue" - works a treat.

Bx

Gaffer tape??? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

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W (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[Bagpuss]

Darn. I've been rumbled....

Stern-Bag x

[jod]

Darn. I've been rumbled....

Stern-Bag x

Oh you have a roll too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) I save mine as a child silencing device when I'm driving... with extra needed for the 'big child in the front seat' who does so like 'back seat driving! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

[agricola]

Some little children can find it more comfortable to sit cross-legged or even kneel on the stool. Doesn't always stop them fidgeting though !

[Misterioso]

The ability to look over the top of ones glasses....

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....as a pupil did to me once!!

[violincjj]

I would just like to inform the forum that JudithJ is very good at Sitting Still in my lessons.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

She should have a sticker! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Cyrilla]

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I think Judith already has a collection of my stickers but I'm sure she wouldn't say no to another one...

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[porilo]

The ability to look over the top of ones glasses and say

In my case it would have to be contact lenses because I don't wear glasses. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)