Introduction
Understanding that everyone has their own thoughts and feelings is a crucial skill for young learners. By teaching PreK students to see from others’ point of view, we can help them develop empathy, problem-solving abilities, and stronger social connections. This blog post will provide an easy-to-implement activity, discussion questions, and related skills to help educators teach their students the valuable skill of putting themselves in someone else’s shoes.
No-Prep Activity
In this simple, no-prep activity, educators can help students practice seeing from others’ point of view by using a storytelling technique. Start by choosing a familiar story or scenario, such as a popular children’s book or a situation that the students have experienced in the classroom. Read the story or describe the situation to the students, and then ask them to imagine how a specific character or person in the story might feel.
For example, if the story is about a lost toy, ask the students to think about how the toy’s owner might feel. Encourage them to consider the character’s facial expressions, body language, and words, as well as their likes and dislikes. This will help them develop a deeper understanding of the character’s emotions and thoughts. After discussing the character’s perspective, ask the students to imagine how they might feel in a similar situation and compare the two perspectives.
Discussion Questions
- Can you think of a time when you felt differently than someone else about the same situation? How did you feel, and how do you think the other person felt?
- Why is it important to understand how other people feel in different situations?
- How can putting ourselves in someone else’s shoes help us be better friends?
- What are some ways we can practice seeing from others’ point of view in our daily lives?
- How can understanding someone else’s perspective help us solve problems together?
Related Skills
Besides learning to see from others’ point of view, there are several other related skills that can help PreK students develop their social-emotional abilities. Some of these skills include:
- Active listening: Teaching students to listen attentively to others, both in words and tone of voice, can help them better understand others’ feelings and thoughts.
- Emotion recognition: Helping students identify and name various emotions can improve their ability to recognize and empathize with how others are feeling.
- Conflict resolution: Encouraging students to consider others’ perspectives when resolving conflicts can lead to more successful outcomes and stronger relationships.
- Empathy: Fostering empathy in students by discussing the importance of caring for others and being sensitive to their feelings can create a more compassionate and supportive learning environment.
Next Steps
Teaching PreK students to see from others’ point of view is an essential skill that can significantly impact their social-emotional development. By using the activity, discussion questions, and related skills outlined in this blog post, educators can help their students build empathy, improve problem-solving abilities, and foster stronger social connections.
To access more resources and sample materials for teaching social-emotional skills, sign up for free samples at Everyday Speech.
