Introduction

Connected play is an essential skill in social-emotional learning, especially for students in special education. It involves sharing an imagination, understanding the emotions and actions of others, and engaging in collaborative play. Developing connected play skills helps students build strong relationships, improve communication, and foster a sense of belonging. In this blog post, we will discuss an easy-to-implement no-prep activity, followed by discussion questions, related skills, and next steps to help educators enhance connected play skills in their students.

No-Prep Activity

This simple activity requires no preparation or materials and can be adapted to suit various age groups and abilities. The activity is called “Story Chain” and involves students taking turns to add a sentence or an idea to a collaborative story.

1. Have students sit in a circle or a group setting.
2. The educator starts the story with a simple sentence, such as “Once upon a time, there was a friendly elephant named Ellie.”
3. Each student takes turns adding a sentence or an idea to continue the story, while keeping in mind the previous sentences and ideas shared by their peers.
4. Encourage students to listen actively to their peers and build on their ideas, rather than introducing unrelated concepts.
5. The activity continues until all students have had a chance to contribute to the story, or until the story reaches a natural conclusion.

This activity promotes connected play by encouraging students to listen to and respect the ideas of their peers, while also sharing their own thoughts and ideas in a collaborative setting.

Discussion Questions

Use these questions to stimulate further discussions about connected play and its importance in social-emotional learning:

1. Why is it important to listen to and respect the ideas of others during play?
2. How can connected play help students build stronger relationships with their peers?
3. What challenges might students face when trying to connect their play with others? How can they overcome these challenges?
4. How does connected play contribute to a positive classroom environment?
5. Can you think of other activities that promote connected play? How can they be adapted for students with different needs?

Related Skills

Connected play is just one aspect of social-emotional learning. Here are some other related skills that educators can focus on to help their students develop a well-rounded social-emotional skillset:

• Active Listening: Teaching students to listen attentively to their peers, ask clarifying questions, and show empathy during conversations.
• Collaboration: Encouraging students to work together to solve problems, complete tasks, or create projects.
• Emotion Recognition: Helping students identify and understand their own emotions and the emotions of others.
• Empathy: Fostering the ability to put oneself in another person’s shoes and understand their feelings and perspectives.
• Conflict Resolution: Teaching students to resolve disagreements and conflicts in a respectful and constructive manner.

Next Steps

Enhancing connected play skills in students is an ongoing process and requires consistent practice and reinforcement. To support your students’ growth in this area, consider signing up for free sample materials that can help you incorporate connected play and other social-emotional learning skills into your teaching. These resources will provide you with additional activities, strategies, and tips to continue fostering a positive and inclusive classroom environment for all students.