Share picture books with preschoolers during story time that discuss cooperation and listening skills. Some examples of picture books for children that teach social skills are “Working Together: Learning about Cooperation and Citizenship” by Regina Burch and “Manners Can Be Fun” by Munro Leaf. Ask questions about the story and encourage children to raise their hands when answering questions. Let the children know that only those who are called upon to answer may speak.
Play a game of follow the leader. Perform an action and encourage the preschooler to imitate your action. For example, hop on one foot or flap your arms like a chicken. Perform a variety of actions one at a time and ask the preschooler “Can you do this?”
Ask preschoolers to sit in a circle. Give a ball to one of the children. Ask the child to roll the ball to one of the other children in the circle and say the child’s name. That child then rolls the ball to another child and says his name. Continue making sure that every child has a turn rolling the ball.
Ask the preschoolers to sit in a circle with their hands behind their pack. Select one child to pass the peanut. Instruct the child to walk outside the circle and touch the hand of each child, secretly passing the peanut to one child. Encourage the children to each take a turn guessing who has the peanut. Continue until each child has taken a turn passing the peanut.
Arrange for preschoolers to have play dates with each another. Supervise children to make sure they take turns playing games, using manners and cooperating. If a child fails to use proper social skills, describe the proper behavior to the child. When a child uses appropriate social skills, give the child praise.
Play card games such as Old Maid or Go Fish and board games like Candy Land with preschoolers. Instruct the children to wait patiently while each child takes a turn before taking another turn.
Spin a web with preschoolers using a ball of yarn. Ask children to sit in a circle. Sit down in the circle and hold the end of a yarn ball in your lap. Select a child and toss the ball of yarn to one of the children. When the child catches the yarn say something you like about the child. Then instruct the child to hold the yarn string tightly in his hand and toss the ball of yarn to another child. Encourage her to say something nice to that child. That child then holds on to the string and tosses the ball of yarn to another child and praises her. The game continues until all of the children have received the ball.