Introduction

In today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, it is essential for students to develop strong social-emotional skills to navigate relationships, manage emotions, and make responsible decisions. One important social-emotional skill is asking for permission, which helps maintain a respectful and harmonious environment in the classroom and beyond. This blog post will provide an overview of the skill of asking for permission, a no-prep activity to practice it, discussion questions to stimulate further thought, and related skills to explore.

No-Prep Activity: The Permission Game

This simple, no-prep activity is designed to help students practice asking for permission in various situations. The goal is for students to understand the importance of asking for permission and to practice doing so in a fun and engaging way.

To start, have students sit in a circle. The teacher will begin by stating a situation where someone might need to ask for permission, such as “Can I use the computer to type my work?” The student to the left of the teacher will then repeat the situation, adding their own request for permission. For example, “Can I use the computer to type my work? Can I borrow a pencil?” The next student will continue the chain, repeating the previous requests and adding their own.

The game continues until a student is unable to remember the entire chain of requests or until everyone has had a turn. To make the activity more challenging, increase the speed of the game or add more complex situations. This activity not only helps students practice asking for permission but also enhances their listening and memory skills.

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important to ask for permission before using someone else’s belongings or resources?
2. Can you think of a time when you didn’t ask for permission and it led to a problem? How could you have handled the situation differently?
3. How do you feel when someone asks for your permission before using your things? How does it make you feel when they don’t?
4. What are some other situations where asking for permission is important?
5. How can asking for permission help build trust and respect in relationships?

Related Skills

Asking for permission is just one aspect of developing strong social-emotional skills. Here are some other related skills that students can benefit from:

• Active listening: Developing the ability to truly listen and understand others is a crucial skill for effective communication and building strong relationships.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others helps students to develop compassion and support for their peers.
• Self-regulation: Learning to manage emotions and behaviors in a healthy way is essential for maintaining positive relationships and making responsible decisions.
• Conflict resolution: Developing strategies to resolve disputes and disagreements in a respectful and constructive manner is vital for maintaining harmony in the classroom and beyond.

Next Steps

Now that you have a better understanding of the importance of asking for permission and how to teach this skill, we encourage you to explore more social-emotional learning activities and resources. To help you get started, sign up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech, which offers a wide range of activities and resources to support the development of social-emotional skills in your students.