Joining a group is an essential social skill that kids need to develop in order to build and maintain friendships. This blog post will provide an overview of the skills involved, a no-prep activity to practice joining a group, discussion questions, related skills, and next steps for educators to help children effectively join groups.

Introduction

Children often encounter situations where they want to join a group and participate in an ongoing activity. To do this successfully, they need to learn how to approach the group, observe what they’re doing, make a relevant comment or ask a question, and get physically close to the group. These skills not only help children engage with others and build friendships, but they also contribute to their overall social-emotional growth.

No-Prep Activity

This no-prep activity is designed to help children practice joining a group without requiring any materials or preparation from the educator. The activity is called “Join the Fun” and can be adapted for various age groups and settings.

1. Ask the children to form small groups and engage in different activities (e.g., playing with blocks, drawing, or talking about a specific topic).
2. One child is chosen to be the “Joiner” and is given a toy or object that is relevant to one of the group’s activities.
3. The Joiner approaches a group, observes what they are doing, and makes a comment or asks a question about the activity (e.g., “That’s a cool pirate ship!” or “Can I help you build the tower?”).
4. The Joiner then shows the toy or object they have brought and gets physically close to the group to join in the activity.
5. Once the Joiner has successfully joined the group, another child takes a turn as the Joiner, and the process repeats until everyone has had a chance to practice joining a group.

This activity allows children to practice the key steps of joining a group in a fun and engaging way, while also receiving feedback from their peers and the educator.

Discussion Questions

After completing the activity, engage the children in a discussion to reinforce the skills they have practiced and encourage reflection. Here are some questions to help guide the conversation:

• How did it feel to join a group during the activity? Were you nervous or excited?
• What strategies did you use to join the group successfully? What worked well for you?
• How did the other children in the group respond when you tried to join? How did their reactions affect your experience?
• Why do you think it’s important to learn how to join a group? How can this skill help you in other situations?
• What tips would you give someone who is struggling with joining a group?

Related Skills

Besides learning how to join a group, children should also develop other social-emotional skills that complement this ability. Some related skills include:

• Active listening: Paying attention to others and showing genuine interest in what they are saying.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others, which helps children connect with their peers on a deeper level.
• Assertiveness: Expressing one’s own thoughts and feelings respectfully and standing up for oneself when necessary.
• Conflict resolution: Addressing disagreements and finding solutions that are acceptable to all parties involved.

Next Steps

If you’re interested in further exploring the skill of joining a group, as well as other essential social-emotional skills, we encourage you to sign up for free samples of our materials. These resources are designed to support educators in teaching children valuable skills that will help them navigate the social world and foster meaningful connections with others.