Even without a wide student age-range, making friends can be challenging for young children. While an individual child may not have reached the social milestone of playing with other children, BabyCenter notes that organizing group activities and teaching children to take turns can help transition students into the social world. Circle time is one example of a group activity commonly seen in preschool. Acclimating children to physical closeness helps with the transition to independent social activity. Taking turns can be difficult for young children, but using a sand timer can help. If one child is using the chin-up bar, for example, the idle child holds the timer until the sand drops and the children switch positions.
Varied age groups equals varied physical development and coordination levels. Preschool playgrounds must be adequately supervised and accommodate different skill levels. If a preschool playground has a swing set, for example, the activity should be carefully controlled to ensure safety. Surround the swing area with plastic cones as a physical reminder for other children to use caution near the area. Limit the activity to two swingers. If children are waiting for a turn, designate a waiting area, such as mats or ropes tied to a fence. Help the waiting children count to 25 and ask the swingers to stop the swings.
Arguments inevitably occur at preschool. Whether it's because one child is not including another, a sand castle got knocked down, or a favorite shovel is not available, disagreements are frequent this age group. Instead of separating the children or solving the problem for them, encourage interaction between the children can help resolve the problem and encourage autonomy. Guide each child to verbally express what is upsetting her. Have the children express their frustration to each other. Next, ask each child to think of a solution to the problem. If resolution is difficult for them, guide them toward an amicable solution.
Working in small groups can help foster teamwork. For example, if the preschool has a clay or play dough table, structuring the activity helps maintain classroom control and maximizes the learning experience. Using painter's tape, physically divide the table surface into four work areas. Students may work together shaping the clay for similar purposes, such as making spaghetti and meatballs. Alternatively, conflict may result if one child has no clay to work with. Encourage the other participants to donate clay to the fourth child. Or, ask the children to come up with their own sharing solutions.