Introduction

Playing together is an essential part of children’s development, helping them to learn social skills and build relationships. However, it is crucial to teach young learners the importance of sharing and asking permission when playing with others. This blog post will discuss an easy-to-implement activity that fosters these skills in PreK students, along with discussion questions and related skills to further support their social-emotional learning journey.

No-Prep Activity

Introduce the concept of sharing and asking permission by reading a short story or scenario similar to the one provided in the prompt. Afterward, engage your students in a group activity that requires them to share materials and ask for permission. One such activity is the “Building Together” game:

1. Divide the students into small groups of 3-4.
2. Provide each group with a set of building blocks or another toy that can be easily shared.
3. Explain the rules: students must work together to build a structure, but they must ask for permission before using a block that another student is holding or has set aside.
4. As the students build, observe their interactions and provide gentle reminders about asking permission and sharing when necessary.

This activity encourages students to practice asking for permission and sharing, while also promoting cooperation and communication within the group.

Discussion Questions

After completing the activity, facilitate a discussion with your students using the following questions:

1. How did you feel when someone asked for permission to use a block you were holding?
2. How would you have felt if someone took a block without asking?
3. What are some ways you can ask for permission when playing with friends?
4. Why is it important to share and ask for permission when playing with others?

Related Skills

In addition to teaching students about sharing and asking permission, there are other relevant skills that can support their social-emotional learning:

• Empathy: Understanding and responding to the feelings of others is a crucial aspect of social-emotional learning. Encourage students to consider how their actions affect the feelings of their peers.
• Communication: Developing clear and respectful communication skills helps students navigate social situations and express their needs and feelings effectively.
• Cooperation: Learning to work together with others, both in play and learning settings, allows students to develop teamwork skills and build positive relationships.

Next Steps

As you continue to support your PreK students in their social-emotional learning, consider incorporating more activities that emphasize skills such as sharing, asking permission, empathy, communication, and cooperation. To access free sample materials that focus on these skills and more, sign up at Everyday Speech and explore their wide range of resources designed for educators like you.