A prekindergarten class has trouble taking turns during a board game. Which strategy would be most effective?

• A. Reading aloud the rules of the game before starting
• B. Monitoring the game from a distance and intervening if needed
• C. Joining the children to provide prompting and modeling of turn taking as needed
• D. Suggesting that the children watch others play until they are ready to take turns

Answer: (C)

Promoting social skills through adult-supported practice gives children a clear, hands-on model of how to take turns. When you join the activity to prompt and demonstrate turn-taking, you show exactly what waiting for a turn looks like, how to signal when it’s your turn, and how to pass or share the game piece. This real-time guidance provides a concrete, safe way for preschoolers to practice, with feedback and assistance that helps them succeed and gradually internalize the behavior. As children begin to grasp the pattern, prompts can be faded, promoting independence.

Reading rules doesn’t translate into action in the moment, and watching from afar or having children observe others without involvement doesn’t give them the chance to practice or receive feedback.