Introducing kindergarten students to the concept of eye contact and visual referencing can help them develop essential communication skills. This blog post will provide educators with an easy-to-implement activity, discussion questions, and related skills to enhance their students’ social-emotional learning.

No-Prep Activity: The Eye Contact Game

This fun and engaging activity requires no preparation or materials and helps students practice making eye contact comfortably. Here’s how it works:

1. Have students sit in a circle with the educator.
2. The educator starts by making eye contact with one student and saying their name.
3. The student whose name was called must make eye contact with another student and say their name.
4. The game continues until all students have had a turn.
5. Encourage students to use visual referencing techniques, such as looking in the general direction of their peers instead of directly at their eyes, if they feel uncomfortable.

This activity not only helps students practice making eye contact, but also reinforces name recognition and builds a sense of community within the classroom.

Discussion Questions

After completing the Eye Contact Game, use these discussion questions to stimulate further conversation and reflection:

• Why is eye contact important during conversations?
• How does it feel when someone makes eye contact with you?
• What are some ways you can use visual referencing if making eye contact feels uncomfortable?
• How can you tell if someone is paying attention during a conversation?
• Why is it important to respect and understand that not everyone feels comfortable making eye contact?

Related Skills

Beyond eye contact and visual referencing, there are several other related skills that can help kindergarten students develop their social-emotional learning:

• Active Listening: Teach students to listen carefully to their peers, ask relevant questions, and provide appropriate feedback during conversations.
• Nonverbal Communication: Help students understand the importance of facial expressions, body language, and gestures in conveying emotions and messages.
• Empathy: Encourage students to put themselves in others’ shoes and understand their feelings and perspectives.
• Respecting Personal Boundaries: Teach students to recognize and respect the personal space and boundaries of their peers.

Next Steps

If you found this post helpful and would like to explore more resources for teaching social-emotional learning skills, we invite you to sign up for free samples of our skill-building materials. Our resources are designed to support educators in creating a nurturing and inclusive learning environment for their students.