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HomeBig KidLearning & EducationImportance Of Teaching The Skill Of 'Taking Turns' To Preschoolers

Importance Of Teaching The Skill Of ‘Taking Turns’ To Preschoolers

It is very important to teach skills to preschoolers and kindergarteners as they are at a critical stage of development and are quickly learning and absorbing new information. Skills such as social skills, communication skills, problem-solving skills, and basic academic skills form the foundation for a child’s future learning and development. Teaching these skills to preschoolers can help them succeed in school and in life.

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Social skills like sharing or taking turns, and following rules, are important for children to learn as they will be interacting with their peers and adults on a daily basis. Good communication skills, including speaking and listening, are also important for children to develop as they will be using these skills to express their needs and wants, as well as to understand and follow directions.

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Problem-solving skills are important for children to develop as they help children to think critically and independently and to find solutions to problems they may encounter. Basic academic skills, such as pre-reading, pre-writing, and pre-math skills, are also important for children to learn as they provide a foundation for future learning in these areas.

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What Does Taking Turns Mean?

What Does Taking Turns Mean

The meaning of taking turns is the act of allowing others to have a turn or opportunity to do something before you do. It is an important social skill that helps children learn to share and cooperate with others. Taking turns is often first introduced to children in the context of playing games or using toys, but it is also a skill that is important in everyday life, such as waiting for a turn to speak in a conversation or waiting for a turn to use a shared resource.

Teaching taking turns to kindergarteners can help them to develop patience, empathy, and self-control. It can also help them to learn to respect the rights and feelings of others and to consider their own actions in the context of a group. Children may need help and guidance in learning how to take turns, especially when they are very young, but with practice and reinforcement and using taking turns in conversation, it can become a natural part of their social behaviour.

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Why Is Taking Turns Important?

  • Taking turns is an important social skill that helps children learn to share and cooperate with others. It helps children to develop patience, empathy, and self-control, and to respect the rights and feelings of others. When children learn to take turns, they know how to consider their own actions in the context of a group and to think about how their actions may affect others.
  • Taking turns is also an important skill for children to learn in order to function effectively in social situations. In everyday life, children will often need to wait for their turn to speak in a conversation or to use a shared resource. By learning to take turns, children can learn to be patient and to wait for their opportunity, rather than interrupting or trying to take control.
  • Taking turns is an essential part of social development and is important for children to learn in order to get along with others and function effectively in a variety of social situations.

Different Types Of Turn Taking

There are several different types of turn-taking that can be used in different contexts and situations. Here are three of them:

1. Alternating Turns

In this type of turn-taking, individuals take turns in a specific order, such as one person going first, then the next person, and so on.

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2. Simultaneous Turns

In this type of turn-taking, individuals take turns at the same time, such as two people speaking at the same time in a conversation.

3. Exclusive Turns

In this type of turn-taking, individuals take turns exclusively, meaning that only one person speaks at a time, and others are expected to listen and not interrupt. This is the most common type of turn-taking in formal settings, such as in a business meeting or a classroom.

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Reasons Why Preschoolers May Struggle With Taking Turns

There are a number of reasons why preschoolers may struggle with taking turns. Some common reasons include:

  • Developmental stage: Preschoolers are still learning and developing their social skills, and taking turns can be a challenging concept for them to understand.
  • Lack of experience: Children who have not had many opportunities to practice taking turns may struggle with the concept.
  • Difficulty with self-control: Some preschoolers may have difficulty regulating their emotions and may become frustrated or upset when they are not able to do something immediately.
  • Difficulty with perspective-taking: Preschoolers may struggle with understanding the perspective of others and may not realize that others also want a turn.
  • Difficulty with impulse control: Preschoolers may have difficulty controlling their impulses and may act on their desires without thinking about the consequences.
  • Difficulty with language: Children who are still developing their language skills may have trouble communicating their needs and understanding the expectations for taking turns.
  • Lack of understanding of social norms: Children who are not familiar with social norms and expectations may struggle with taking turns.

Easy Ways To Teach Taking Turns To Preschoolers

Here are some easy ways to teach taking turns to preschoolers:

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1. Model Taking Turns

Children learn by observing and imitating the behaviour of others. When you take turns in everyday activities, such as sharing toys or waiting your turn to speak, you can model the behaviour you want your child to learn.

2. Use Verbal Prompts

Help your child understand when it is their turn by saying things like “Your turn” or “It’s your turn now.”

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3. Use Visual Aids

Use objects, such as dolls or stuffed animals, to demonstrate taking turns. You can also use visual aids, such as a timer or a chart, to help your child understand when it is their turn.

4. Practice Waiting

Help your child practice waiting for their turn by using a timer or a visual cue. For example, you can use a sand timer or a stopwatch to show your child how long they need to wait.

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5. Use Positive Reinforcement

When your child successfully takes turns, be sure to praise them and give them positive reinforcement. This can help to encourage and motivate them to continue practising this important skill.

6. Provide Opportunities To Practice

Children learn best when they have the opportunity to practice new skills. Make sure to provide your child with plenty of opportunities to practice taking turns in a variety of settings and activities.

7. Board Games

Board games with multiple players gives children lots of practice and patience to wait for their turn, all while having fun. Watching other players, cheering for them or even jeering at them, is quite a fun waiting activity. Guide your child for what to do while waiting, like counting and calculating their next move and being ready for their turn, or even organising their game money/ cards/ or whatever components the game employs to be able to play neatly.

8. My Turn!

This is a skill you can instill in your child right since they’re a toddler. Children are fascinated by toys and have an urge to grab them even from another child’s hands. Take that opportunity to teach them the words “My turn”. Start by saying “my turn” as if on their behalf every time your toddler tries to snatch something out of someone’s hands. Remember not to get angry, as they’re still learning. Soon, your toddler will start saying it themselves whenever they want a toy. You can then make them understand the bigger meaning of “turn” and the fact that they need to wait.

9. Play Catch!

One of the most fun turn-taking activities for kids is to play catch. Start with two players. One throws, the other catches. It will teach kids the idea of turns, waiting and engaging while waiting. A similar game can be played indoors with cars, by sitting on opposite sides and rolling or pushing the toy car to one player who has to catch it, and roll it back to the second player.

10. Alternate activity

When a child has difficulty waiting or taking turns, you can conduct some specific activities that teach them this important value. Take one engaging activity like colouring a figure, joining the dots or beading and threading. Give your child some time to work on it. After a while, hand them a super fun activity that has a high reinforcement value, like playdough, cars or slings. Let your child know that they have just 2 minutes to play with it, after which they must return it to you. Give them a warning a few seconds before stopping. This will get them used to controlling the urge for immediate gratification.

Tools That Help Turn-Taking In Preschoolers

Here are five tools that can help with turn-taking in preschoolers:

1. Timers

Timers, such as sand timers or stopwatches, can be used to help children understand how long they need to wait for their turn.

2. Visual Aids

Visual aids, such as dolls or stuffed animals, can be used to demonstrate taking turns and can help children understand the concept.

3. Visual Schedules

Visual schedules, such as a chart or a picture schedule, can help children understand the order of events and when it is their turn.

4. Social Stories

Social stories are short, simple stories that use words and pictures to teach a specific social skill. They can be used to teach children about taking turns.

5. Board Games

Board games that involve taking turns, such as Snakes and Ladders or Chutes and Ladders, can be a fun way for children to practice this skill.

Activities And Games To Teach Taking Turns To Preschoolers

Here are some turn-taking activities and games that can help teach this to preschoolers:

1. Simon Says

This is a classic game that involves following simple commands, such as “Simon says touch your nose” or “Simon says clap your hands.” Children can practice taking turns by taking turns being “Simon” and giving the commands.

2. Hot Potato

This is a simple game that can be played with a small ball or another object. Children pass the object around in a circle, and when the music stops, the child holding the object is out. Children can practice taking turns by waiting for their turn to pass the object.

3. Board Games

Board games that involve taking turns, such as Snakes and Ladders or Chutes and Ladders, can be a fun way for children to practice this skill.

4. Playground Games

Playground games, such as tag or red light, green light, can also involve taking turns and can be a fun way for children to practice this skill.

5. Turn-Taking Songs

There are many songs that involve taking turns, such as “The Hokey Pokey” or “This Old Man.” Singing these songs with children can be a fun way to practice taking turns.

By using these strategies, you can help your child learn the important skill of taking turns and foster their social and emotional development.

Also Read:

Singular and Plural Nouns for Kids
Same and Different Concepts for Children
Digraph for Children with their Types and Examples

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