As educators, one of our key responsibilities is to help our students develop social-emotional skills that will guide them through their lives. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of teaching kindergarten students to think before they speak, and explore a no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills to support this learning process.

Introduction

Kindergarten students are just starting to learn about social interactions and the impact their words can have on others. It is essential for them to understand that some thoughts should not be expressed out loud, especially if they might hurt someone’s feelings. By teaching students to pause and consider whether they should think it or say it, we can help them develop empathy, self-awareness, and effective communication skills.

No-Prep Activity: The Think or Say Game

This simple, no-prep activity is designed to help kindergarten students practice the skill of thinking before they speak. To play the Think or Say Game, follow these steps:

1. Ask the students to sit in a circle.
2. Explain the concept of thinking before speaking and how some thoughts might hurt others if said out loud.
3. Give an example of a thought that should be kept inside and one that could be shared.
4. Present various scenarios to the students, and ask them to decide if the thought in the scenario should be thought or said out loud.
5. Encourage the students to explain their reasoning for each decision.

Discussion Questions

After completing the Think or Say Game, use these discussion questions to further explore the concept of thinking before speaking:

• Why is it important to think before we speak?
• How can our words affect others’ feelings?
• Can you think of a time when someone said something that hurt your feelings? How did it make you feel?
• What can we do if we accidentally say something that hurts someone’s feelings?
• How can we show empathy and understanding towards others when we communicate?

Related Skills

In addition to thinking before speaking, there are other related skills that contribute to the overall development of social-emotional learning in kindergarten students. Some of these skills include:

• Active listening: Teaching students to pay attention and show interest when others are speaking.
• Empathy: Helping students understand and share the feelings of others.
• Self-awareness: Encouraging students to recognize their own emotions and how they affect their thoughts and actions.
• Conflict resolution: Guiding students in resolving disagreements and finding solutions that are fair for everyone involved.
• Respectful communication: Teaching students to express themselves in a polite and respectful manner.

Next Steps

By teaching kindergarten students to think before they speak, we can create a supportive and empathetic learning environment that fosters positive relationships and social-emotional growth. To further explore this skill and other related skills, we encourage you to sign up for free samples of our social-emotional learning materials. These resources will provide you with additional tools and strategies to support the development of essential life skills in your students.