How to Ask for Help

Materials: n/a

Purposes:

• Independence

• Preparation for Culturally Appropriate Social Behavior

Age: 3 - 6

Preparation: None

Presentation:

• Invite a small group and a child expert to sit with you. The child expert will ask you for help in the lesson.

• Explain that you will show them what to do if they need to ask for help. 

• Child expert says, “Excuse me (adult’s name), would you please help me tie my apron?”

• Answer that you can, the child responds with a thank you, and you offer, “You are welcome.”

• Model a different scenario telling the children sometimes you won’t be able to help. 

• Child expert says, “(Adult’s name) would you please help me tie my apron?”

• Answer that you are sorry you are not available, but they can ask the other adult or a friend.

• The child responds with a thank you and you reply.

• Invite the children to act it out on both sides, with both scenarios.

• Summarize the lesson and dismiss the children to work.

Points of Interest:

• How to respond when you get the yes or a no answer to asking for help.

Following Exercises:

• Asking for something.

Pedagogical Notes:

• You need to change the words for the interactions that are most appropriate for your setting.

• On another day you will present a scenario where the child is asking for something.