When kids are learning remotely or in a hybrid educational environment, there are often other people around them. This provides a unique opportunity to build a healthy community in new ways.
When people play together, they are able to build respect and trust.
Consider how you might invite others to play with your class, pending school rules, and include them. Kids love when they are joined at recess by caring adults from throughout the school, older siblings, and volunteers. If their school is virtual right now, they might not get to see those friendly faces, but they can enjoy having other people around them join in to play.
Here are some quick tips to invite everyone to play:
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Set expectations
- Select a specific virtual play time each week or day where everyone can play together and set expectations. For example, send home a newsletter that invites families, babysitters, leaders at the community center where kids are learning, and more to join you on screen at a certain time. Send them a newsletter or email that lets them know when they can join in, what the game of the week will be, and what skills they can expect to practice. You can use the sample newsletter language included in the weekly Keep Playing emails as a great starting place.
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Gather the players
- Announce that it is time to play and give everyone a chance to join the game. One of our favorite ways to do this is to have the class count down and clap. The group can cheer and count down from 10, including two claps between each number. Every kid who has someone at home who would like to play has 10 seconds to go grab them and let them know it is time to get in the game. After the countdown ends, the game begins.
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Get everyone playing
- Modify the rules of the game to include the other players. Include them on the list for single player actions, put them in small groups for team activities, or play games that the whole group can play at once regardless of how many people are present such as “Stand Up If” or “Superstar.”
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Close out the activity
- Thank your guests for playing and let them know when the next community recess will be by closing the group with a quick round of appreciations and announcements. Have the class give the group a cheer like the Banana Cheer or a clap like the Whoosh Clap. Set expectations that after everyone cheers that all guests can depart.
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