This week, pupils took part in structured and play-based activities focused on developing the important social skills of waiting for a turn and sharing. These skills are essential for building positive relationships, participating in group learning, and developing confidence when interacting with others.
Through carefully planned games and group tasks, pupils practised:
- Waiting for their turn during games and activities
- Sharing resources and toys with peers
- Following simple rules and routines
- Coping with short periods of waiting
- Using communication (words, gestures, or symbols) to request, comment, or negotiate
Activities included board games, turn-taking card games, construction play, and adult-led games such as Connect 4 and sorting tasks. Adults supported pupils by modelling language, using visual cues, and praising positive social behaviour.
These sessions help pupils understand that waiting and sharing are safe, predictable, and rewarding experiences.
How parents can support turn-taking and sharing at home
You can help reinforce these skills at home by:
- Using clear language such as “my turn” and “your turn”
- Keeping turns short at first and gradually increasing waiting time
- Using a timer or visual cue to show when it will be someone else’s turn
- Praising effort, not just success (e.g. “You waited really well”)
- Staying calm and consistent if your child finds waiting difficult
Remember, learning to wait and share takes time. Repetition and consistency are key.
Simple game ideas to try at home
Here are some fun and easy games that support turn-taking and sharing:
- Connect 4 or Snakes and Ladders – great for practising waiting and following rules
- Rolling a ball back and forth – simple, motivating, and highly effective
- Building with blocks or LEGO – take turns adding pieces to a shared model
- Card matching games – encourage turn-taking and joint attention
- Board games with a dice – help children learn to wait and respond to others
These games work best when adults model calm turn-taking and use supportive language throughout.
By practising these skills both at school and at home, we help children develop the foundations for positive social interaction, cooperation, and emotional regulation.
Have a great weekend
