Teaching children the importance of waiting for their turn is a crucial life skill. In this blog post, we’ll explore the concept of waiting for one’s turn, offer a no-prep activity for educators, provide discussion questions, and suggest related skills for students to develop. We’ll also share information on how to access free sample materials to help students improve their social-emotional learning.

Introduction

Waiting for a turn can be a challenging concept for young children to grasp. It requires self-control and an understanding of social expectations. In life, we can’t simply take what we want; we need to consider others and what is expected of us. Sometimes, children may get to go first, while other times, they might have to wait. In this blog post, we’ll use the example of Christine, a student who learns the importance of waiting for her turn in a classroom setting.

No-Prep Activity

The “Turn-Taking Train” activity is a simple, no-prep exercise that helps students understand the importance of waiting for their turn. Here’s how it works:

1. Have the students sit in a circle on the floor.
2. Explain to the students that they will be taking turns being the “engine” of the train, leading the group around the room.
3. Choose one student to start as the engine and have the rest of the students follow behind in a line to form the train.
4. Once the train has made a complete loop around the room, the engine returns to their spot in the circle, and the next student in line becomes the new engine.
5. Continue the activity until each student has had a turn as the engine.

This activity encourages students to practice patience and self-control as they wait for their turn to be the engine. They also learn to respect the turns of their classmates and understand that everyone gets a chance to lead.

Discussion Questions

After completing the “Turn-Taking Train” activity, engage your students in a discussion using the following questions:

• How did it feel to wait for your turn to be the engine? Was it easy or difficult? Why?
• How did you feel when it was finally your turn to lead the train? Did it make the waiting worth it?
• Why is it important to wait for our turn in different situations, such as in the classroom or on the playground?
• How can we show respect for others when it’s their turn to do something?
• Can you think of a time when you had to wait for your turn outside of school? How did you handle it?

Related Skills

Teaching students to wait for their turn is just one aspect of social-emotional learning. Other related skills that educators can help students develop include:

• Active listening: Encourage students to truly listen and pay attention when others are speaking, demonstrating respect and understanding.
• Empathy: Teach students to put themselves in others’ shoes and consider their feelings and perspectives.
• Self-regulation: Help students develop strategies for managing their emotions and behaviors in various situations.
• Cooperation: Foster a sense of teamwork and collaboration among students as they work together on projects and activities.

Next Steps

Teaching students the importance of waiting for their turn is a vital skill that will serve them well throughout their lives. To access more resources and activities that promote social-emotional learning, sign up for free samples of our skill-building materials at Everyday Speech.