Introduction

Educators working with PreK students know the importance of teaching positive attitudes and sportsmanship during recess. Being a good sport means maintaining a positive attitude, following the rules, supporting others, and accepting when we lose without getting too upset. When children learn these skills early on, they are better equipped to handle disappointments, foster healthy relationships, and enjoy playing with others. In this blog post, we will discuss an easy no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills to help teach PreK students the importance of being a good sport at recess.

No-Prep Activity

To help your students practice being a good sport, try this simple no-prep activity called “Compliment Tag.” In this game, have your students gather in an open area. Choose one student to be “it,” and explain that the goal is to tag others while giving them a compliment. For example, they might say, “Nice shoes!” or “Great smile!” as they tag someone. Once a student is tagged, they become “it” and must give a compliment before tagging someone else. Encourage students to support and cheer on their classmates throughout the game, helping them develop positive attitudes and sportsmanship.

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important to have a positive attitude during recess, even when we lose or don’t get our way?
2. How can we show support and encouragement to our friends while playing at recess?
3. What are some examples of playing by the rules during recess activities?
4. How do you feel when someone is not being a good sport during a game?
5. Can you think of a time when you were a good sport at recess? How did it make you feel?

Related Skills

In addition to being a good sport at recess, there are other related skills that can benefit PreK students in their social-emotional development. These skills include:

• Sharing: Learning to share toys, materials, and play spaces with classmates.
• Active listening: Paying attention to what others are saying and showing empathy.
• Conflict resolution: Finding ways to resolve disagreements or problems in a respectful manner.
• Cooperation: Working together with classmates to achieve a common goal.
• Resilience: Bouncing back from disappointments and challenges with a positive attitude.

Next Steps

Now that you have a better understanding of the importance of being a good sport at recess and related skills for PreK students, we encourage you to sign up for free samples of these skills and others to incorporate into your teaching. By providing a supportive and nurturing environment, you can help your students develop positive attitudes, strong relationships, and a love for learning that will serve them well throughout their lives.