Jesse is at the park with his new friend again, and there's someone else here too,
another new friend, and they all want to play together in a group.
Playing in a group is lots of fun, but there are some skills
we need to think about in order to keep everyone happy while we play.
Some of these skills you've already learned, like taking turns and compromising. Those are
very important. Some skills we haven't learned yet, and that's why we're here today. The first
thing we need to talk about is cooperation. Cooperation means everyone working together.
Another important skill is treating everyone with respect. This means being kind even if
you don't agree with someone. One last thing is respecting the boundaries other people set.
This means not pressuring people into doing something they don't want to do
and listening when someone says to stop doing something.
Let's look at some steps to think about when playing with friends in a group. First,
remember to compromise. People in a group can always have different ideas about what to do
or how to do something. When people compromise,
they agree on one thing, even though it might not be exactly what each person wanted.
Being able to compromise will allow everyone to have fun even when a disagreement comes up.
I want to play tag!
I want to go on the slides!
Let's do something we all like!
Next, be kind and respectful. There may be times when it is really hard to compromise, and you
really don't agree with someone. But it's never okay to use unkind words or actions toward others.
Okay, so I like playing baseball,
and it doesn't really matter what you guys think, so let's play baseball!
I don't like baseball!
Uh, let's remember to be kind and respectful towards each other.
Then, always respect the boundaries of others. There may be times when you want to do something
that might make someone else uncomfortable, like climbing all the way up to the top of a playground
structure. If someone shares that they are uncomfortable with something you are doing or want
to do, it is very important to stop right away. Even if they say they are okay with it at first,
you still need to stop if they change their mind. Also, if someone is making you uncomfortable,
it's always okay to say, "Please stop" or "No, I don't feel ready to do that yet."
Now it's my turn to chase you!
Oh, I don't think I want to be chased.
But we're playing tag, and you said you wanted to be chased.
I don't think I'm comfortable with the game anymore.
Oh... okay!
Finally, remember to have fun! We've talked about lots of rules today,
but don't forget the point of playing in a group: having fun! Let's go over the steps one more time.
First, remember to compromise. Next, be kind and respectful.
Then, always respect the boundaries of others. Finally, remember to have fun! There we have it!
Jesse learned a lot about playing with a group of others. He earned his... Group Play Badge!
Remember these tips when you play with others, and earn your badge too! See you next time!