Core Skills Analysis
Social-Emotional Learning
Mila watched a social modeling video in which children demonstrated a positive attitude after being out of hot potato. She learned by observing that games can continue pleasantly even when a player is no longer participating in the round. Mila then practiced responding to game outcomes while playing with her mom, sister, and aqua occupational therapist.
Communication and Language Arts
Mila practiced using and understanding game-related communication during hot potato. She engaged with different partners, including family members and her aqua occupational therapist, which gave her opportunities to attend to directions, respond during play, and share the activity with others. The video also supported her ability to learn through watching modeled behavior.
Physical Education and Motor Skills
Mila participated in a hands-on ball game that required passing or handling the hot potato during play. She practiced coordinating her actions with the timing of the group while taking turns. Playing the activity in an aqua occupational therapy setting allowed her to apply the same leisure-game routine in another environment.
Executive Functioning
Mila practiced waiting, turn taking, and staying engaged as the game moved from one player to another. She learned to follow the changing structure of a round and adjust when she became out. Repeating the game with family and her therapist gave her practice transferring these routines across people and settings.
Tips
Tips: After each round, briefly review what happened using questions such as “Whose turn was next?” and “What could you do when you were out?” Try changing the music, timer, or passing direction to practice flexible thinking while keeping the rules simple. Mila could create a picture-based game sequence showing watch, pass, wait, and encourage. End with a short celebration of sportsmanship, highlighting positive words or actions she noticed and used.
Book Recommendations
- The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neill: A picture book about playground behavior, friendship, and learning to participate positively with others.
- Enemy Pie by Derek Munson: A story that explores changing social feelings and developing a positive relationship with another child.
- How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague: A playful book about cooperation, manners, and appropriate behavior during games with friends.
Try This Next
- Create a four-picture sequencing worksheet: watch, pass, wait, and encourage.
- Ask: “What can Mila do when she is out?” and draw or write two positive responses.
- Play hot potato with picture cards showing different emotions, then name the feeling after each round.
- Make a sportsmanship word bank with phrases such as “Good game,” “Your turn,” and “Keep trying.”