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Child Development & Early Education vocabulary · Nursery Practice and Routines

Circle time

Meaning in child development & early education, with examples

nounCore term

In child development & early education, circle time means: A short group session when children sit together, usually in a circle, to talk, sing, share news or play games led by an adult.

In Turkish: çember zamanı, halka zamanı, güne başlama zamanı

How it is used

Common in nurseries and schools in the UK and the US; some settings call it group time, carpet time or morning meeting. It is kept short for young children.

Example sentences

  1. At circle time, we talk about the weather and who is here today.

  2. Circle time lasts about ten minutes in the two-year-olds' room.

Common collocations

  • circle time activities
  • carpet time
  • group time
  • morning circle
  • routineThe regular order of events in a child's day, such as arrival, snack, play, meals, nap and home time, which helps children feel secure and know what comes next.
  • turn-takingTaking turns with others in play, games and conversation, which involves waiting, sharing and paying attention to the other person.
  • adult-led activityAn activity that an adult plans and leads with a clear learning purpose, such as a cooking session, a story or a small-group counting game.
  • transitionA change from one situation to another: either a big move such as starting nursery or school, or a small change during the day such as tidying up before lunch.

More terms: Nursery Practice and Routines

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