Introduction
Teaching young children the difference between necessary reporting and tattling can be a challenging task for educators. This blog post will provide a no-prep activity and discussion questions to help educators teach their PreK students this valuable social-emotional skill. By understanding when it’s appropriate to involve an adult, students can foster healthier and more trusting relationships with their peers.
No-Prep Activity
Begin by reading the following scenario to your students:
Chris: Those cookies at lunch were so good.
Serena: I know! They were really good. Guess what, I took an extra one.
Liz: What? We were only supposed to take one. That’s not fair. I’m telling.
Explain to the students that Liz is being a tattletale by reporting something small that didn’t hurt anyone or put them in danger. Now, read the alternative scenario:
Chris: Those cookies at lunch were so good.
Serena: I know! They were really good. Guess what, I took an extra one.
Liz: She shouldn’t have taken an extra cookie, but no one got hurt, so I don’t think it’s a big deal. Yeah, they were great. The chocolate chip is my favorite.
Serena: I’ll try to control myself next time.
In this version, Liz chooses not to tattle on Serena, and everyone feels better about the situation. After discussing both scenarios, have students act out similar situations in pairs or small groups, where they practice deciding whether or not to involve an adult.
Discussion Questions
- Why is it important to know the difference between tattling and reporting a serious concern?
- How did Liz’s decision to not tattle in the second scenario change the outcome for everyone involved?
- Can you think of a time when you were tempted to tattle? What did you do, and how did it make you feel?
- How can we help our friends learn the difference between tattling and reporting important concerns?
- What are some examples of situations where it’s important to tell an adult?
Related Skills
Teaching students when to tell is just one aspect of building strong social-emotional skills. Other related skills that can be incorporated into your lessons include:
- Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others
- Conflict resolution: Learning how to resolve disagreements in a respectful and constructive manner
- Effective communication: Expressing thoughts and feelings clearly and appropriately
- Responsibility: Recognizing and fulfilling personal and social obligations
Next Steps
Now that you have a better understanding of how to teach PreK students when to tell, it’s time to put these principles into practice. To further support your students’ social-emotional learning journey, sign up for free sample materials from Everyday Speech. These resources will provide you with additional activities and strategies to help your students develop essential life skills.
