As educators, we strive to develop well-rounded students who are not only academically successful but also socially and emotionally competent. One way to foster healthy social interactions is by teaching PreK students the art of giving compliments and starting conversations. The following skills and activities will help you introduce and practice these important social-emotional learning concepts with your students.

Introduction

Giving compliments and starting conversations are essential social skills that help students build positive relationships with their peers and adults. By learning to give genuine compliments, students can boost their self-esteem and the self-esteem of others. Starting conversations allows students to practice active listening and empathy, which are critical components of effective communication. Both giving compliments and initiating conversations contribute to a positive and supportive learning environment.

No-Prep Activity: The Compliment Circle

This simple, no-prep activity encourages students to practice giving compliments and helps them become more comfortable with social interactions. To begin, gather your students in a circle. Explain that they will be taking turns giving a compliment to the person sitting next to them. Provide some examples of compliments, such as “I like your shoes” or “You did a great job sharing today.”

Go around the circle, allowing each student to give a compliment to their neighbor. Encourage students to be specific and genuine in their compliments. After each compliment, have the recipient say “thank you” to reinforce polite responses. Once the circle is complete, debrief the activity by asking students how it felt to give and receive compliments.

Discussion Questions

• How did it feel to give a compliment to someone else? How did it feel to receive a compliment?
• Why is it important to give genuine compliments? How can you tell if a compliment is genuine?
• Can you think of a time when someone gave you a compliment that made you feel good? How did it make you feel?
• How can giving compliments help us build connections with others?
• What are some other ways we can start conversations with our peers?

Related Skills

Teaching students to give compliments and start conversations is just the beginning of their social-emotional learning journey. Here are some related skills that can further enhance their development:

• Active listening: Encourage students to pay close attention to their peers during conversations and respond with empathy and understanding.
• Empathy: Teach students to put themselves in others’ shoes and consider their feelings, thoughts, and perspectives.
• Conflict resolution: Help students develop strategies for resolving conflicts in a respectful and constructive manner.
• Cooperation: Encourage students to work together, share resources, and collaborate on tasks and projects.

Next Steps

Now that you have a better understanding of how to teach PreK students to give compliments and start conversations, it’s time to put these skills into practice. To access free sample materials and resources for teaching social-emotional learning, visit Everyday Speech’s sample materials page. These resources will support your efforts to create a positive and inclusive learning environment for your students, helping them develop essential social skills for a lifetime of success.