Waiting for a turn can be a challenging concept for young children to grasp, especially in a PreK setting. It’s essential for educators to teach students the importance of waiting for their turn and developing self-control in various situations. This blog post will introduce a no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills to help educators teach PreK students the skill of waiting for their turn.

Introduction

Teaching PreK students the skill of waiting for their turn is a crucial aspect of their social-emotional development. Learning to wait helps children develop patience, self-control, and empathy towards others. In various situations, such as participating in classroom activities or playing with friends, children need to understand that they cannot always go first and must sometimes wait for their turn. By teaching this skill early on, educators can help set the foundation for a lifetime of positive social interactions and emotional growth.

No-Prep Activity: The Waiting Game

This simple activity requires no preparation or materials and can be easily incorporated into your classroom routine. The Waiting Game encourages children to practice waiting for their turn in a fun and engaging way.

1. Have the students sit in a circle on the floor.
2. Explain that you will be passing an imaginary ball around the circle. Each child must wait for their turn to receive the ball before passing it on to the next person.
3. Begin by pretending to hold the ball and pass it to the first student. As the student receives the imaginary ball, they should say, “Thank you,” and then pass it on to the next child.
4. Continue the game until the imaginary ball has made its way around the entire circle.
5. After the activity, discuss with the students how it felt to wait for their turn and how they demonstrated self-control during the game.

Discussion Questions

Use these questions to stimulate further discussions about the importance of waiting for a turn and developing self-control:

• Why is it important to wait for our turn in different situations?
• How did it feel when you had to wait for your turn during the Waiting Game?
• What can we do to make waiting for our turn easier or more enjoyable?
• How can practicing self-control help us in other areas of our lives?
• Can you think of a time when you had to wait for your turn outside of the classroom? How did you handle it?

Related Skills

Teaching the skill of waiting for a turn also helps PreK students develop other important social-emotional skills, such as:

• Patience: Learning to wait for a turn helps children develop the ability to tolerate delays and setbacks without becoming frustrated or upset.
• Empathy: Understanding that others also need to take turns fosters a sense of empathy and consideration for the feelings and needs of others.
• Cooperation: Waiting for a turn encourages children to work together and cooperate with their peers in group activities and social situations.

Next Steps

Teaching PreK students the skill of waiting for their turn is an important step in their social-emotional development. By incorporating activities like the Waiting Game and engaging in meaningful discussions, educators can help their students build a strong foundation for future success in social situations and emotional growth. To further enhance your teaching resources, sign up for free samples of skill-based activities and materials from Everyday Speech. These resources can help you effectively teach your students essential social-emotional skills and foster a positive learning environment in your classroom.