How do you get a group of 2 1/2 to 3 year olds to be quiet and listen?

Play "Simon says...be quiet" lol jk

Read a book to them, show them movies that are educational, play musical chairs with music that is enlightning, use flash cards to help them learn, get out the coloring books and crayons, end the day by everyone finishing the line "I am grateful for...", sing songs, dance. Instead of making their lesson as a sit and learn lesson, be creative and make it more active.

My grandmother used to teach a class and she would do a lot of fun art with them. For example build a church out of sugar blocks, icing, and graham crackers for the roof. We would teach them prayers as a group and an individual basis. Her age group was a year or two older, though.

Keep them engaged. Try readiing a good (religious) book and let them have a role in the lesson i.e. they make a certain noise or do a certain action everytime you turn the page.

A talking stick! Clapping your hands together. A flash light, flipping it of and on. A reward system .

Don't. Why browbeat kids with energy into submission? Engage their energy and channel it to positive things - think of activities they could do that are educational, interactive and fun, and they'll be fine. Expecting kids of that age to subject themselves to 1.5 hours of being talked at won't work.

Sometimes when YOU talk real low and quiet...they get real quiet too so they can hear you! It works for me sometimes.