Building a strong foundation for positive peer interactions begins early. For clinicians working with preschool and kindergarten-age students, resources that make abstract social concepts concrete are invaluable. Everyday Speech’s ‘Being Fair with Others’ activity is designed to help young children learn, practice, and internalize fairness during play.

As students connect specific fairness strategies to images and real-world examples, they gain tools to navigate sharing, taking turns, and considering others’ feelings. These skills set the stage for lasting friendships and healthy group experiences.

What Are Play Skills?

Play skills refer to the social and behavioral abilities children use to interact with peers during play. These abilities include sharing, turn-taking, cooperating, and resolving conflicts. The development of play skills also supports language growth, self-regulation, and cognitive flexibility. When children build play skills, they become better at creating and joining group activities, expressing feelings appropriately, and fostering inclusive friendships. For preschool and kindergarten students, play skills are often among the first ways they practice communication, empathy, and problem-solving in a social setting.

Why Teach Play Skills?

Fostering play skills is essential in early childhood. The following benefits highlight why systematic instruction and practice matter:

• Enhances social communication and cooperation among peers.
• Lays the groundwork for friendships by teaching mutual respect and understanding.
• Decreases behavioral challenges by providing alternatives to impulsive or aggressive actions.
• Builds empathy by encouraging children to consider others’ feelings and needs.
• Supports classroom routines and transitions, contributing to a positive learning environment.
• Encourages self-regulation as students learn to wait, share, and adapt to group norms.
• Prepares children for success during more structured group learning later on.

Incorporating play skills instruction into early childhood classrooms or intervention groups leads to well-rounded students who are ready to engage, learn, and build friendships.

Lesson Plan: Using Being Fair with Others

‘Being Fair with Others’ is an interactive matching activity designed to teach and reinforce fairness strategies through visual and descriptive prompts. This no-prep digital and printable tool is perfect for small groups, push-in lessons, or individual work during targeted social skills sessions.

Step 1: Preview the Concept of Fairness

Begin by talking with students about what ‘being fair’ means. With younger learners, concrete examples are especially important. Discuss scenarios that students recognize, such as playing with blocks, lining up for a game, or choosing a classroom job. Encourage input with questions like, ‘How do we make sure everyone has a turn?’ or ‘What could we do if someone feels left out?’

This is also a great opportunity to introduce the three key fairness strategies covered in the activity:

• Playing by the rules.
• Thinking about others.
• Taking turns.

Use simple language and visuals. Hold up objects or role-play simple situations to illustrate fairness and unfairness, then invite students to identify what makes each act fair or not fair.

Step 2: Introduce the Activity

Show the ‘Being Fair with Others’ printable or project it for the group. Explain that students will see pictures on one side and descriptions on the other. Their job is to connect each picture to its matching description by drawing a line (if working on paper) or using fingers or styluses (if working on a tablet or computer).

Walk through one match as a group. For example, look at the image showing two children taking turns on playground swings. Read the descriptions together and guide students to find the best match — in this case, the description about making sure everyone gets a turn.

Step 3: Complete the Matching Activity

Distribute the activity sheets or set up digital access for each student. Encourage students to work independently if appropriate, or pair them for collaborative matching. As they work, circulate and provide prompting or support as needed. If a student is unsure, ask reflective questions such as, ‘What do you see? How are the children playing fairly?’

Allow students to make all their matches, drawing lines or dragging to connect one side to the other.

Step 4: Review and Reflect on Fairness Strategies

Once students have completed the matching, gather back together. Review each picture and ask students to share which strategies they found and why. Encourage discussion about how each strategy looks in everyday play:

• What does it sound like when someone is playing by the rules?
• How do you know someone is thinking about others?
• Why is it important to take turns?

Highlight the value of each fairness strategy. Reinforce positive connections and correct gently if any matches were made in error, always connecting back to real-life play examples.

Step 5: Submit Answers and Extend Learning

If completing digitally, show students how to submit their answers. Discuss any feedback the resource provides. Ask students how they can use these fairness strategies the next time they play with friends. Consider having students role-play or draw a picture of themselves using one of the fairness skills. Practicing these ideas beyond the worksheet deepens understanding and helps generalize skills to future group play.

Supporting Play Skills After the Activity

Teaching fairness in isolation is just the beginning. Consistent support and reinforcement in everyday classroom moments ensure these strategies take root. There are several ways to maintain the momentum after the activity:

• Be intentional about modeling fairness during daily routines. Narrate your thinking as you make decisions to be fair, such as sharing supplies or taking turns in morning meetings.
• Use visual reminders and language from the activity. Post images or phrases around the room, like ‘Take Turns’ and ‘Play by the Rules,’ to cue positive behaviors.
• Reinforce fairness skills during unstructured times, such as recess, free play, or center activities. Notice and praise students for using fairness strategies organically.
• Set up group games that require turn-taking and playing by the rules. Pause for teachable moments to address fairness if conflicts arise.
• Partner with families by describing fairness strategies and suggesting ways to practice at home. For example, encourage families to play simple board or card games together and highlight fairness rules.
• Use social stories and role-play in small group or one-on-one settings for students who need added support to understand or practice the concepts.

Consistent reinforcement, clear expectations, and authentic praise for observed fairness help these vital play skills become second nature for young children.

Wrapping Up: Laying the Foundation for Fair Friendships

Establishing fairness during play is one of the earliest and most significant steps toward healthy peer relationships. With tools like Everyday Speech’s ‘Being Fair with Others’ activity, clinicians and educators can make fairness concrete, understandable, and engaging for preschool and kindergarten students. These initial lessons pay dividends as students build their social toolkits — practicing not only fairness, but also empathy, perspective-taking, and cooperation. By embedding these strategies into daily routines and offering regular opportunities to reflect and practice, adults help support the development of socially confident, respectful, and caring learners. When students know what it means to be fair and have the tools to act on that knowledge, classrooms become more inclusive, peaceful, and productive spaces for everyone.