Sharing and Turn-taking

[Stargrower]

Does anyone have any ideas for activities / provision to encourage sharing and turn-taking for 3 and 4 year olds? Several of our children need to develop their skills in this area but we're a bit stumped for ideas other than playing boxed games (which they love but we've done lots of it!)

Thanks in advance! :1b

[LKeyteach]

We start in a small way with just two children sharing and it could be each taking turns to put a piece of train tract together, or each taking turns to put a brick in a tower or even rolling out the playdough. The possibilities are endless. If there is a bigger group I favour having the children sitting in a circle so that you can say. first it is Jack's turn, then Jill, the Little Bo Peep etc. So that the children can see quite clearly their order in the turn. But I feel the key is to start small and then add one more child to the group. It does need a lot of adult support though.

One thing we have had to do at circle time is have a duplo brick or a spoon so that the child who is holding the item is the only child allowed to talk, this helps turn taking in conversation. Had a funny incident though, one child was so keen to talk, left the circle and found his on duplo brick and felt that this gave him the right to talk. Pretty clever!!!

Hope this helps.

[Guest]

agree with above. small steps and all that. we use talking teddy as your brick - clever chap indeed i would say!! obviously not got the turn-taking idea though!!! otherwise it's a free for all....... we use marble run when they have some idea- each take a turn rolling the marble down and both watch. can increase to three when ok with two. you'll get there x

[Panders]

Always a tricky skill, we use pop up pirate, very quick game and no other skill involved other than getting your dagger in properly. You could also have staff act out scenarios for the children to comment upon at your circle time. Could try some puppets who just can't get their behaviour right that's always funny

[finleysmaid]

now I have a bit of a thing about this (well there's a surprise!) turn taking and sharing are two very different things learnt at different stages of development

so for your three year olds turn taking....apart from one for me one for you type games we use large sand timers so that it is very visual...you can also make 'calming' bottles' which also work (pintrest!) We also restrict some toys to work on turn taking specifically.

Four year olds can start to share....this is where they give something to another without expecting it back (often seems to be playdough orientated in our setting!)

2 years olds need to do supported turn taking ...done in two's with an adult one sits on your lap whilst you watch the other child having a turn talking about what they are doing and generally keeping them occupied then swap (making sure you say thank you etc!!!)

[Harmony1985]

We use a sand timer. We talk to the children about taking turns and say that when the sand runs out, it's the other child's turn.

[Blondie28143]

Agree with all of the above!

When you put out your play dough, do so in one big blob in the middle of the table. Conservation can be led by the member of staff that there's only one piece but 5 children blah blah blah! Depending on your age group (we have mixed in one room from the age of 2)

after encouraging to work this out for themselves, you take a piece of play dough and pass it on, the next child does the same and so on.

 

[green hippo]

I think sharing and taking turns is an issue that some children need re-teaching. Many parents teach sharing by telling their child to give up a toy as soon as another child asks or grabs hold of it. The parent may know that their child has had it for a while and so they should allow someone to have a turn. However, neither child will be really know this. They both learn that if they go and grab something then they should expect to be given it straight away. Then they go to Nursery and find a child who will not give up a toy because an adult may not be by them to prompt and it all ends up in tears!

With this in mind, we try to teach children how to ask for something (e.g. Can I have a go in a minute?) and also how to reply (e.g. I'll just have 2 more goes then it's your turn). Timers and other sharing systems also work well as they help child to get a concept of the time it takes to have a 'turn'.

Great ideas above also!

Green Hippo x

[Melcatfish]

Totally agree with Green Hippo. We teach our children to ask "Can I have a turn when you've finished please?" and we remind the child who already has the toy that they can finish what they are doing but that when they are done James would like a turn. It is surprising how few children find this impossible! 9 times out of 10 they will have a couple more goes at whatever they are doing then hand the toy to the child who asked. It helps them get to know their peers at the beginning of the year and develop manners and social skills.

At the play dough table if someone comes along and there is space but no dough I usually ask the children what we can do and almost always someone will offer some of their dough and with a little encouragement the others soon follow suit each giving a small piece of their dough so the newcomer has some to play with too. I like the community conscience aspect where everyone clubs together to make sure their class mate has enough to join in.

 

Mel

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