Use a Timer to Teach Preschool Social Skills
Ease Transitions, Introduce Turn-Taking & Guide Conflict Resolution
Aug 24, 2009
Whether it's an old-fashioned version with a dial or a high-tech model with a digital read-out, a kitchen timer isn't just for cooking anymore. It can also be a significant teaching tool. With a timer, preschool teachers can get children ready for transitional activities, teach a developmentally appropriate alternative to sharing, and help them learn new ways to resolve conflicts with peers.
Use a Timer to Prepare for Transitions
One of the most difficult parts of keeping a preschool classroom running smoothly is helping children move from activity to activity with a minimum of stress. There are many outstanding books on the market that detail games, songs, and tips for assisting transitions. The first step however, is preparing children for the fact that a change is approaching.
This is when a timer becomes a valuable teaching tool. While preschool-aged children are not able to tell time, they can appreciate the beginning and ending of particular time periods.When it is approaching the time for an activity to be over, give the children a prearranged signal, such as turning off the lights or a rhythmic clap.
Once attention is engaged, let them know that the timer is set, and when it rings it will be clean-up time. Another way to get the students more involved is to have a timer helper as one of the preschool classroom jobs. This helper goes around to the other children and announces that it will be clean-up time when the bell rings. When the timer sounds, the children are prepared for a transition.
Teach Children to Take Turns
As much as adults would like young children to share, it is not developmentally appropriate to expect them to understand sharing behavior until about seven or eight years of age. (Wilbert, 2008) In the meantime, a timer is extremely useful for teaching children the concept of taking turns. When two children both want the same toy or other classroom item at the same time, it often creates conflict. Here is an easy solution:
- Bring the timer to the children, explain that each child will have a turn, and help children decide who will go first.
- Using first, then statements are particularly helpful in these situations. For example, “First Miranda will have turn with the doll, and then Leo will have a turn.”
- Be sure to place a strong emphasis on the words first and then, so the children clearly understand the upcoming sequence of events.
- Let both the children watch as the timer is set.
- When it rings, closely supervise the transfer of the item from one child to the other.
This process, consistently followed, helps young children develop the ability to wait for short periods of time for a turn with a desired toy or object. Children as young as 24-30 months can learn how to take turns (Langoni, L.S., et. al., 1989) using a timer as a guide.
Depending on the age and attention span of the children involved, the teacher can judge the appropriate amount of time for each child to have the item. Generally a good amount of time to start with is three to five minutes.
Children Learn to Resolve Conflicts
Once children understand the process of turn-taking using a timer, it is possible to guide children, ages three and older, to the next step. This involves teaching children to request the timer if conflict looms.
When an issue arises between them, children learn to approach the teacher and ask to have the timer set before they begin to fight over a toy. Create a script to teach the children the words to say to each other and then to the classroom teacher in order to request the timer. Eventually children use the script as a guideline for working through conflicts over toys and other classroom items.
An example might go something like this:
Miranda: I got the doll first.
Leo: But I want to play with it now.
Miranda: No! I have it!
Teacher: Leo, can you ask Miranda for the doll using your kind words? Miranda, you can say yes or no.
Leo: Please can I have the doll?
Miranda: No. I have it.
Teacher: Miranda, now you tell Leo he can have the doll when you are done.
Miranda: You can have it when I’m done.
Teacher: Should we set the timer? First Miranda will have the doll. When the bell rings, then it will be Leo’s turn. Is that OK?
Leo: OK, let's set the timer.
Used consistently, timers can become powerful tools for teaching social skills in the preschool classroom. Timers offer opportunities to prepare for transitions, teach turn-taking , and help young children learn new ways to resolve conflicts.
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