Introduction

Playing with others on the playground is an essential aspect of a child’s social development. It is crucial for educators to teach PreK students how to join their friends while maintaining personal space and using appropriate communication. This blog post will discuss a no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills to help young learners successfully join others on the playground.

No-Prep Activity

Role-playing is an effective and engaging way for PreK students to learn how to join others on the playground. For this no-prep activity, gather the students in a circle and assign one student to be the “newcomer” who wants to join the game. The other students will pretend to be playing on the playground. The “newcomer” should follow these steps:

1. Notice where their friends are and what they are doing.
2. Move their body close to them while keeping personal space.
3. Greet their friends using a level 4 outdoor voice on the voice scale.
4. Ask to join in, using phrases such as, “What are you guys playing? Can I join?” or “That looks fun. Can I play too?”

After the role-play, discuss the experience with the students, emphasizing the importance of each step. Encourage them to practice this skill during recess and other social situations.

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important to maintain personal space when approaching friends on the playground?
2. How can using a level 4 outdoor voice on the voice scale help you get your friends’ attention when it’s noisy outside?
3. What are some other phrases you can use to ask if you can join a game on the playground?
4. How do you feel when you successfully join a game with your friends?
5. What can you do if someone doesn’t want you to join their game? How can you handle this situation positively?

Related Skills

Teaching PreK students how to join others on the playground goes hand-in-hand with other essential social-emotional learning skills, such as:

• Active listening and communication
• Respecting personal boundaries
• Sharing and taking turns
• Understanding and expressing emotions
• Conflict resolution and problem-solving

Next Steps

Ready to explore more social-emotional learning resources for your PreK students? Sign up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech to access engaging activities and lessons that will help your students develop essential life skills. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to enhance your students’ social-emotional growth!