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Social Skills - Basic Level

Join Others' Activities/Invite Others to Play
Basic Level 
Shasta Quigley
  • Description of Skill - This skill set is the ability to interact with peers during play times and unstructured activities without the constant supervision or intervention of an adult.  This may include joining a game in progress or initiating activities with others and includes the basic communication skills needed to engage with others.
  • Examples of what the skill looks like -
    • Mary prefers to play with adults, but will join an activity if another student asks her to. She shares toys and space, and takes turns, but "does her own thing" most of the time.
    • Jake approaches students that he knows and will use basic phrases, such as "Can I play?" but may give up easily if he is turned down. He has a repertoire of 2-3 games he will play for more than a few minutes at a time.
    • Brandon plays with other students during recess and actively tries to recruit new play partners. He controls the rules and may leave the game if he is not winning or gets tired of waiting for his turn.
  • Skill Sequence
    • Join others' activities when asked
    • Ask to join preferred activities that are already in progress
    • Ask a familiar peer to play
  • Assessment - If the student can do the following, they should be ready for the basic level:
    • Play next to other students
    • Share materials with others
    • Take turns in play activities
    • Request activities and items
    • Answer simple yes/no questions (including "Do you want _____")
Lesson Plan 
  • Student Outcomes - At the end of this lesson, in a variety of situations and settings, the student(s) will be able to:
    • Join others' activities when asked
    • Ask to join preferred activities that are already in progress
    • Ask a familiar peer to play
  • Materials - Games and activities that lend themselves to joining
Teaching Format
  • Introduce the skill - Define appropriate times and settings for peer play/peer activities (during recess, at lunch, after school, during free time).
  • Teach the skill - Teach students rules around asking to play.  For example: 1)Find a friend 2)Look at them and ask 3)Wait for an answer.
  • Model - Model polite/appropriate requests: "Can I play?", "What are you doing?", "Do you want to play ____ with me?" and responses.
  • Role-play for practice - Engage students in role-play around a variety of activities.  Have students practice initiating 1 on 1 activities as well as whole-group games.
  • Generalization Activities (identify real-life situations to apply the skill) - Identify a range of situations and strategies during recess, unstructured times, before and after school for joining others' activities when asked, joining preferred activities that are already in progress, and asking a familiar peer to play.
  • Skill maintenance/reinforcement - Provide specific feedback during instruction, practice, generalization and extension activities.
  • Extensions - Report back on joining an activity at a neighborhood play group, for example.  For one week, check off skills on a daily card after recess.  Classroom celebrations for use of skill and for practice.
  • Resources -
    • Second Step, Pre-K/K kit, Lesson 8, Joining In
    • Skillstreaming the Elementary School Child, Skill 17, Joining In, p. 107
    • Social Skills Training, Baker, Number 25, Joining Others to Play, p. 126-7
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