Introduction

As educators, it is essential to teach our young students the importance of communication and social skills. One key aspect of building healthy relationships is learning how to respond when a friend speaks to us. By teaching Kindergarten students the importance of answering a friend, we can help them develop strong social-emotional skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.

No-Prep Activity: The Listening Game

This simple, no-prep activity is designed to teach students the importance of listening and responding to their friends. The only requirement is the participation of the students and the educator to guide the activity.

1. Have the students sit in a circle, with the educator also participating.
2. The educator starts by asking a question to the student on their left, such as “What is your favorite color?”
3. The student must listen carefully and respond to the question.
4. Once the student has answered, they ask a new question to the student on their left, and so on.
5. The game continues until all students have had a chance to answer and ask a question.

This activity encourages active listening and responding, teaching students the importance of engaging in conversations and building strong social-emotional skills.

Discussion Questions

After completing the Listening Game, use these questions to facilitate further discussions on the importance of answering a friend:

1. How did it feel when someone listened and responded to your question?
2. Why do you think it is important to answer a friend when they talk to you?
3. How can not responding to a friend affect their feelings?
4. What can you do if you’re busy when a friend talks to you?
5. What are some ways to show that you are listening to a friend?

Related Skills

In addition to learning the importance of answering a friend, there are other related social-emotional skills that Kindergarten students can benefit from:

• Active listening: Paying full attention to the speaker and showing interest in what they are saying.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
• Respect: Treating others with kindness and valuing their opinions and feelings.
• Conflict resolution: Addressing disagreements in a calm and respectful manner.

Next Steps

Teaching the importance of answering a friend is just one aspect of helping Kindergarten students develop strong social-emotional skills. To access more resources and activities to support your students’ growth, sign up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech. You’ll find a wealth of materials to help you guide your students on their social-emotional learning journey.