Introduction
Sharing and turn-taking are important social skills that help children build positive relationships with their peers. These skills are crucial for kindergarten students as they interact with others in various settings, such as the classroom, playground, and during playdates. By fostering a sense of cooperation and mutual respect, children learn to communicate their needs, listen to others, and collaborate effectively.
No-Prep Activity: The Sharing Circle
This simple, no-prep activity is designed to help kindergarten students practice sharing and turn-taking skills in a fun, engaging way. The Sharing Circle requires no materials or preparation from the educator, making it an easy activity to incorporate into your daily routine.
- Have the students sit in a circle on the floor.
- Explain that they will be participating in a Sharing Circle, where they will have the opportunity to share a favorite toy, item, or story with their classmates.
- Ask one student to begin by sharing their item or story with the group. Encourage the student to speak clearly and express why they chose to share this particular item or story.
- Once the first student is done sharing, have the next student in the circle take their turn. Continue this process until every student has had an opportunity to share.
- At the end of the activity, lead a brief discussion about the importance of sharing and taking turns. Ask the students how it felt to share their item or story and to listen to their classmates’ contributions.
Discussion Questions
Use these questions to stimulate further discussion about sharing and turn-taking among your kindergarten students:
- Why is it important to share and take turns with our friends?
- How does it feel when someone shares with you or lets you take a turn with their toy?
- What can you do if you’re having trouble sharing or taking turns with a friend?
- How can we help each other practice sharing and turn-taking in our classroom?
- Can you think of a time when you shared or took turns with a friend? How did it make you feel?
Related Skills
As students develop sharing and turn-taking skills, they are also building other essential social-emotional skills that contribute to their overall growth and well-being. Some of these related skills include:
- Communication: Expressing thoughts and feelings, and understanding those of others.
- Empathy: Recognizing and responding to the emotions of others.
- Conflict resolution: Navigating disagreements and finding solutions that are fair for everyone involved.
- Cooperation: Working together with others to achieve a common goal.
Next Steps
Are you interested in exploring more activities and resources to help your kindergarten students develop sharing, turn-taking, and other essential social-emotional skills? Visit Everyday Speech and sign up for free samples of skill-building materials. You’ll find a variety of tools and resources designed to support educators in fostering social-emotional learning in the classroom.
