Circle time is a well-known concept in the early childhood education community. It is also the subject of many debates in our field. Our hope with this article is to shed some light on the purpose of circle time and how to use this time effectively.

Circle time is said to have originated in Great Britain. It has since traveled to many other cultures and has evolved into different forms for different purposes. Originally it was meant to be a whole group “learning experience” where educators would focus on a theme or a particular topic. Modern day circle times usually serve as more of a “morning meeting.” There are many different ways to use circle time and it is important to be intentional about how (or if) circle time fits into your specific program.