Group imaginative play requires all children to work together sharing props and ideas. Set up a pretend kitchen so children can play "restaurant" or "house." Participating in this make believe play also gives you a chance to model sharing and manners. Play along with children using statements such as "May I please borrow your spoon?" and "Thank you so much for sharing this spoon with me!" When you're done playing, praise preschoolers for using their manners and sharing with one another.
Any child who's had a toy grabbed out of his hands knows it makes him feel sad or angry, but he may not realize how others feel when he does the same to them. Asking preschoolers to imagine how they're affecting others helps them learn consideration. Divide pieces of paper down the middle and give one to each child. On the first side, ask each child to draw a picture of how he would feel if someone took his toys away and on the second half, how he feels when they share and play together politely. They should see that sharing can make everyone feel happy.
When preschoolers get positive reinforcement, they feel good about themselves and want to continue using the behavior for which they were praised. Ask children to fill half a sheet of paper with drawings of themselves sharing and being polite. Hang up each child's sheet and place a sticker on the blank half whenever you see her sharing or being polite. Preschoolers will be proud of all the stickers they earn and all students will learn from one another's examples.
Craft projects provide a chance for dual lessons. While children are working on crafts about manners and sharing, encourage them to share art supplies and be respectful of one another's space. Ask each child to make a thank-you card for someone who has helped him. Trace each child's hand onto construction paper; help him cut out his hand picture and have him draw an illustration on the hand of one thing he can do to be respectful and kind to others. Tape the hand pictures all over your classroom door under a heading like "We Have Helping Hands!"