Introduction
Body language, including eye contact, plays a vital role in communication. For PreK students, making eye contact is an essential social-emotional learning skill that helps them engage in conversations and pay attention. However, using eye contact can be difficult or uncomfortable for some children. In these cases, visual referencing can be a helpful alternative. This blog post will explore ways to support PreK students in making eye contact comfortably and discuss related skills.
No-Prep Activity: The Eye Contact Game
This simple, no-prep activity can help PreK students practice making eye contact comfortably. To play the Eye Contact Game, follow these steps:
- Have students sit in a circle with the educator.
- Explain that they will be practicing making eye contact with their classmates.
- Start by making eye contact with one student and saying their name.
- That student will then make eye contact with another classmate, say their name, and so on.
- Encourage students to use visual referencing if making direct eye contact is difficult. They can look in the general direction of their classmate’s face, taking breaks as needed.
- Continue until all students have had a turn.
By playing this game, students will develop their eye contact skills in a fun and supportive environment.
Discussion Questions
- Why is making eye contact important during conversations?
- How can you tell if someone is interested in a conversation by looking at their eyes?
- What are some ways to use visual referencing if making eye contact is difficult?
- How can we respect others’ feelings and comfort levels when making eye contact?
- How can we encourage our classmates to make eye contact in a supportive way?
Related Skills
Beyond making eye contact comfortably, there are other social-emotional learning skills that can help PreK students build strong communication foundations. These include:
- Active listening: Encourage students to focus on the speaker, ask questions, and show empathy during conversations.
- Nonverbal communication: Teach students to recognize and interpret body language, facial expressions, and gestures.
- Expressing emotions: Help students learn to identify and appropriately express their feelings through words, art, or other creative outlets.
- Respecting personal boundaries: Teach students the importance of respecting others’ personal space and comfort levels in social situations.
Next Steps
Now that you have a better understanding of how to support PreK students in making eye contact comfortably and the related social-emotional learning skills, it’s time to put these strategies into practice. To access free sample materials that can help you teach these skills and more, visit Everyday Speech’s sample materials and sign up today.
