In this blog post, we will explore the importance of teaching young children the value of helping others and building strong friendships. By incorporating principles of Social-Emotional Learning, educators can impart essential life skills that will enable students to develop empathy, understanding, and a sense of responsibility for their actions. This will ultimately lead to stronger relationships and a positive impact on both their own lives and those around them.

Introduction

As educators, it is crucial to instill the importance of helping others and forming positive relationships in the minds of PreK students. By teaching children about empathy and the impact their actions have on others, they can develop a strong foundation for building healthy friendships throughout their lives. In this blog post, we will discuss a no-prep activity designed to teach children the value of helping others, followed by discussion questions and related skills that can further enhance their understanding.

No-Prep Activity: The Helping Hands Game

This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator. The purpose of the Helping Hands Game is to encourage children to recognize when someone needs help and to offer assistance without being prompted.

1. Ask the students to form a circle and choose one student to be the “Helper.”
2. Explain that the Helper’s job is to look for classmates who might need help during the game.
3. As the educator, you will act out various scenarios in which someone might need help (e.g., dropping a stack of papers, struggling to open a door, etc.).
4. When the Helper sees someone who needs help, they should approach them and ask if they can assist.
5. After a few scenarios, choose another student to be the Helper and continue the game.
6. Encourage the students to share their experiences and feelings after the activity.

Discussion Questions

After completing the Helping Hands Game, use these discussion questions to stimulate further conversations and deepen students’ understanding of the importance of helping others and building friendships:

1. How did it feel when you were the Helper and offered assistance to someone who needed it?
2. How do you think the person receiving help felt when they were offered assistance?
3. Why is it important to help others without being asked?
4. How can helping others strengthen our friendships?
5. What are some other ways we can show kindness and be good friends to others?

Related Skills

In addition to teaching the importance of helping others, there are several other related skills that can be incorporated into Social-Emotional Learning lessons for PreK students:

• Active listening: Teaching students to listen attentively and respond appropriately to others.
• Empathy: Helping students understand and share the feelings of others.
• Cooperation: Encouraging students to work together and collaborate effectively.
• Conflict resolution: Guiding students through resolving disagreements and finding solutions that benefit everyone involved.

Next Steps

If you’re interested in exploring more activities and resources to help teach PreK students about the importance of helping others and building strong friendships, sign up for free samples of our skill-based materials at Everyday Speech. By incorporating these valuable Social-Emotional Learning lessons into your curriculum, you can set your students on a path towards a lifetime of healthy relationships and personal growth.