...to hope this isn't actually the norm nowadays?

[poisoningpidgeysinthepark]

I was invited to give a little talk about my work at a children's event, just 10 minutes or so. I don't work with children, so I prepared well, brought some things for them to look at, and lost a night's sleep because I was quite concerned about getting it right.
There were quite a few primary school age children there with their leaders/teachers, and some preschoolers with their parents.
After I had been introduced I tried to talk to the children, asking them lots of questions first to get them engaged, but nobody was sitting down or listening and I couldn't make myself heard because there was so much shouting and running around going on. After a bit, instead of getting the children to calm down, one of the leaders handed me a microphone so I could shout over the top of all the racket. As everyone still kept ignoring me, he cut me off before I'd even finished and that was that.
The whole thing left me feeling very deflated. I assumed that I just wasn't cut out for that kind of thing and it was my fault. But actually, having stewed for a bit, I'm getting a bit annoyed. Is this kind of rude behaviour normal nowadays, or did I just catch them on a bad day?

Gosh, you have memories of being a preschooler? And many generations of it? Wow. You must feel very superior to todays' parents and children. Good for you.

I used to go in to schools to do singing. I have to admit that I was mega-bossy! I would say to the teachers where I needed the children to be, what was expected of them, how they might help me achieve this etc. If there was a stroppy child I would say: "Oh jolly good, we have a real performer here - you can do the solo bit!" That usually resulted in them trying very hard not to be noticed!

Preschoolers are completely able to sit still and listen. Ds's school have assembly every day and nursery children attend 3 times a week. They all sit quietly for half an hour. All my children have done this since my eldest started age 3 in 1999.

I'm a cub leader and the age is 8-10

We have invited speakers occasionally and the cubs always sit quietly, listen and then ask questions - I've never had a situation like you describe, but then I wouldn't allow it

no, this is not the norm nowadays and it's a shame they weren't interested when you'd taken time to prepare etc.

I'm irresistibly reminded of a James Herriot story where he makes a complete pig's ear (so to speak) of a talk to some young children about being a vet (when he was a young man in the 1930s). Kids under about the age of, oh, anything between 8 and 25 depending on personality don't get much out of a classroom style lecture. It's a very distinct skill developing rapport with youngsters and I'm not sure I, for one, am capable of it.

Our nursery starts from 2 to 5.. they can all sit down for 10 to 15 minutes and listen to a story / talk answer and ask questions.
They do this 3 times a day. Morning mid day and before home time.

The organisers where rude.

Maybe next time you could call them to attention. The hand clap is magic. Clap clap clap children stop in their tracks round here.

From ages 2 ton5

Some preschoolers can sit and listen. Some can do it sometimes and some will mainly climb the curtains. In my experience it depends largely on how preschool they are, how interesting what you are asking them to listen to is and how long you are asking them to do it for.

I used to work in a very naice, leafy area preschool. Listening to the parents it was apparent that the children were extremely well behaved and listened intently when required...it was also apparent that the parents weren't in the preschool room much...

quite a lot of parents have very low expectations behaviourally of their children.

they either bray about how wild / feral / energetic/ curious they are. or DGAF.

Either way they are not as much 'fun' as their parents think they are.

Schools in our area are full of children who have been appallingly parented, right across the spectrum of social demographics.

I take my youngest to a play-group for preschooler, and after snacks there's always a short presentation (dance teacher, charity etc.) and then someone reads a story. All the children sit down and stay quiet and still during both, even the groups who are with a childminder.

At preschool, all 2 and 3 years old seat very nicely and politely for 10-15minutes, without parents around.

Sadly some parents think nothing of their little darlings running riots and disturbing restaurants, weddings or nativity but there still is decent and well behaved people around!

OP you have been unlucky with your group.

Those stating that preschool children can sit for 15 minutes are not wrong but this is by no means all of them and I doubt very much involves a speech on careers

I ran a Rainbow unit for many years (girls aged 5-7). Many times, I invited speakers in ... guide dogs, a parent who was a dentist etc. I never had any problem getting them to sit quietly. If parents and younger siblings were also there, well yes pre schoolers aren't really known for their listening skills and the parents are responsible for them, not the beaver/cub leaders. I don't know if the parents and littlies could have been moved a bit further away. As a parent, in that situation, if my little one was disruptive I would have taken them out but, unfortunately, parents don't always do that.

SandSnakeofDorne

Gosh, you have memories of being a preschooler?
Yes I do. Many. You don't? Poor you.

And many generations of it?
Via anecdotes and documentaries, yes. You don't? Poor you.

Wow. You must feel very superior to todays' parents and children.
I look at how children once behaved, and how many of them do now, and it definitely was better then. You must feel very inferior to read about children sitting quietly and listening and believe it's impossible, they don't do it and they're not designed like that. Poor you.

Good for you.
Thanks. Yes it was.

You've been unlucky OP. You as guest speaker were not there to do crowd control. The leaders / organisers should have done that and they let you down by not doing so. Also, to all the posters saying it wasn't right for the group - again, it is the leaders' / organisers' responsibility to know what suits their age group and to clearly and politely communicate this to their invited guests.

I agree with Kimmy that you should let them know it wasn't a great experience for you. It may at least mean that they can be more helpful to other guests in future. They will find it hard to get people to come back if they can't support them properly.

No, it's crap.

I read the Gruffalo at a SEN unit in a primary school and kept their attention, still and quiet, for 15 minutes, with chatting at the end. It's crap that the teacher didn't back you up

I can imagine that this situation came about because the leaders didn't want to step on your toes by taking control from you -maybe they thought you were experienced at talking to children?

As a teacher and parent I have been in situations where I have wanted to take control (clap my hands and tell them to sit and listen) but not done so because it wasn't my place to do so when someone else was talking.

I have also been in situations where I have been the "speaker" but not leader and not been sure whether to tackle behaviour or leave that to the "adult in charge". I normally do the hand clap and wait until they are ready to listen but would be trying to get eye contact with the leader for anything else.

When were the my naughty little sister books set?
Have you read them? There's several times where she, a pre-schooler, is sat listening.

I'm a Brownie leader so same age group. The girls are definitely capable of being quiet and listening, although they do get overexcited and chatty. They're generally better behaved for visitors than their usual leaders though. I also would expect myself and other leaders to manage "crowd control" if a guest speaker was there (I wouldn't object to them doing it but I wouldn't expect them to).

The beaver/Cubs leaders should have set higher expectations for behaviour than you having to use a microphone to shout over the din. Silence may not be realistic, but sitting and paying attention should be.

We used to go regularly to a local venue where the staff were amazed by the power to raise their hand in the air and get silence! It works far better for them than us in normal meetings!