(1.5 minute read)
Welcome Back:
A Quick Game to Teach Social Awareness
As we begin a new school year, here’s a simple yet powerful game you can play with children. It helps them adjust to classroom expectations and figure out how to behave during the holiday season.
Many children with social challenges struggle to “read the room.” They don’t always notice what’s happening around them, which means they can miss social cues and sometimes act in ways that feel “off” to others. One skill we can teach is using the five senses to notice, guess, and plan.
How the Game Works
Encourage children to:
- Notice – Look, listen, and use all five senses to observe what’s happening.
- Guess – Make a smart guess about what’s going on.
- Plan – Decide what to do in that situation.
Classroom Examples
When modeling, I might say:
- “I notice the room is quiet and my teacher is standing in front of the class talking. I guess she is teaching. Therefore, I will keep quiet and follow along.”
- “I notice everyone took out a math workbook. I guess it’s math time. Therefore, I will take out my own math workbook.”
After modeling once or twice, I invite the child to take a turn using the prompts:
👉 “I notice… I guess… Therefore, I will…”
We continue for several rounds, taking turns noticing, guessing, and planning.
Holiday-Themed Examples
To practice in other environments, I might say:
- “Let’s imagine we are in shul on Yom Kippur.
- I notice people are holding machzorim (prayer books) and reading from them. I guess it’s time to pray. Therefore, I will keep quiet and won’t talk, run, or make noise.
- Your turn…”
- “Let’s pretend we are sitting in the sukkah outdoors.
- I notice other families are nearby, and I can hear what’s happening in their sukkah. I guess they might hear us, too. Therefore, I will try to be quiet and respectful in my own sukkah.
- Your turn…”
Why It Matters
This simple game teaches children to “read the room” and look for cues to guide their behavior. When practiced repeatedly, it helps them build the observation skills necessary to figure out social situations and prepares them for real-life social situations.
A Small Game With A Big Impact!
Once again, welcome back to the new school year! May all of our children and students win favor in their teachers’ eyes so that they feel respected and admired every day in school. It can only help make the school year a positive experience.
Yours,
Dr. Devora