As children grow and develop, they start learning social skills that are essential for building healthy relationships. One of these skills is sharing, taking turns, and waiting for their turn, which can be challenging for some children. At Hickory Hill Academy, we understand the importance of teaching these skills early on to help children build positive relationships with their peers. Our Early Childhood Director, Teresa Hoveland and HHA teachers use a multifaceted approach that must be revisited many times before children can develop and eventually master these skills!
Helpful Tips and Tricks from HHA Teachers that YOU Can Do Too!
The youngest children must have plenty of time to play with materials without being asked to share or take turns. They have a developmental need to have a toy all to themselves to satisfy the need for full exploration of the object. Only after they have had that opportunity will they be ready to share or take turns.
It’s hard for young children to wait, so we make sure they have something else to do while they are waiting.
They read stories about how to get along with other children in a group, which may include how to share and how to take turns.
The teachers also use puppets (that the children name) to talk through real classroom situations and then the children “help” the puppet with ideas for how to solve the problems.
As children are playing in their learning centers, teachers model language and behavior that demonstrate skills such as sharing, taking turns, and waiting for a turn.
As children begin practicing these skills on their own, teachers are close by observing and stepping in when help is needed (also called scaffolding).
They might set a timer for turn taking. The children seem to really understand this and feel it’s fair (most of the time).
They might intentionally plan activities for 2 children to do together cooperatively.
Some children struggle with impulse control, so teachers plan short activities to help build self control skills.
They may place a desired object nearby but have the children wait for a cue before picking up the object and using it.
They might play fun music that children dance to, and ask children to “freeze” when the music stops. They repeat several times and learn to control their bodies in this way.
Teaching children to share, take turns, and wait their turn can be a challenging task, but with consistent effort and the right approach, it is achievable. By using a multifaceted approach and revisiting these skills frequently, children can develop these essential social skills and build positive relationships with their peers. At HHA, we are dedicated to helping children develop the social and emotional skills they need to succeed both in and outside of the classroom.
We have some exciting news to share! Our campus is expanding, and we are happy to announce that there is no waitlist for children ages 2 and up. If you're interested in joining our community, now is the perfect time to inquire! Our HHA teachers use a multifaceted approach to teach children how to share, take turns, and wait their turn, and our campus is growing to accommodate even more children. Inquire today at the link provided and schedule a tour to see what Hickory Hill Academy can offer your child. We can't wait to show you around and share our love for learning with you!
Inquire today HERE! We’d love to meet you, share more about the campus and program, and answer any questions you may have!