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Role Play Challenging Social Situations

Tags

Social-Emotional Learning ^Extra-curricular/At-Home All Ages Strategy

Skills

Self-regulation Social Awareness

Role Play Challenging Social Situations

If your child is struggling with a difficult peer situation

How To Apply It!

  1. Role playing helps children reason through challenging or novel situations and understand others' perspectives.
  2. Act out an existing problem, anticipation of an uncomfortable situation or topic that is relevant to the student.
  3. Present a scenario with a script or just make up your roles as you go along.
  4. Switch roles to encourage empathy with others and understanding different points of view.
  5. For younger children, you can use dress up clothes or include siblings.
  6. For teenagers struggling with social problems say, "Take his side of the story. Talk through what you think he would say in this situation ...."

Why It Works (the Science Of Learning)!

Role playing enables children to think through challenging situations away from the "heat of the moment" and with a clear head. It can be a safe way to see that maybe they made a mistake without having to admit they work were wrong or just not entirely right. It also provides the opportunity to have an active discussion about the pros and cons of different points of view when the stakes are low. We know that emotions can interfere with rational thinking. When we think through situations in advance and when we are calm, we are often able to make better decisions in live situations even when our emotions rise.