Social Skills for Kindergarten Success
Kindergarten is a big transition for children. The expectations are new and some of the social interactions are new. At Detroit Prep we want children to share, take turns, make transitions, and so much more all while learning new academic skills. To help make the transition easier for kindergartners, we practice 6 social skills that contribute to school and social success!
Sharing: This kindergarten skill is important for Kindergarten success! Students spend a lot of time in freeplay with their peers and working alongside one another. Sharing toys and materials is a must.
Taking Turns: Taking turns goes hand in hand with sharing, but there’s a distinct difference. When we’re taking turns, one person is using an item while another person waits.
Accepting No: Sometimes children will hear no, especially when at school. Sometimes, they might ask for a turn with something and someone might say no. Accepting no is another important social skill for Kindergarten. Students are taught calming strategies to use in the moment when they experience dissappointent, frustration, or anger over a no answer.
Listening and Following Directions: Listening and following directions are huge skills for not just Kindergarten success, but school success as a whole. Students are taught what listening looks and feels like. (Eyes on the speaker, body still, mouths closed, hands empty, and ears ready to listen).
Stating Needs: Need some personal space? Ask for it with words. Need help? Let an adult know. The phrase “use your words,” comes up a lot in Kindergarten as we want students to be able to advocate for themselves. Practicing asking for a break, some space, or help is big for Kindergarten success!
Transitioning Activities: It’s hard to stop doing something we enjoy and move on to something new! We can help students tune in to transition signals like teacher reminders, visual calendars, and timers. When it is hard to move on students are taught calming strategies.
