Look for clues
Sometimes we can tell how a friend is feeling by the look on their face, the way they are sitting or the way they are standing.
Beth, Patrick and Kim are in the playground. Is Kim enjoying the game?
The kids are all in a park playing. Initially it looks like they’re all having fun, but we realise that only Beth and Patrick are. They’re playing piggy in the middle and Kim is in the middle.
NARRATOR: Beth, Patrick are all playing a game of Piggy in the middle with Kim's teddy, Baby Teddy in the park, but it looks like Kim isn’t having as much fun as the rest of them.
PATRICK: Too slow Kim!
Turns out its piggy in the middle with Kim's ’baby teddy’. She’s embarrassed about it and feels like they’re making fun of her.
PATRICK: Come on Kim, you’re never going to win if you don’t try!
KIM: I don’t like this game. I want my teddy back.
BETH: You’re a bit too old to be playing with a teddy don’t you think Kim?
Kim slumps forward, with her face in her hands.
KIM: I’m not playing anymore. I want to go home.
At this point Jeanie walks over.
JEANIE: What’s going on here kids? Is everything ok Kim?
Before Kim speaks Beth chimes in.
BETH: I don’t know what’s wrong with Kim, we were all having fun and then she just stopped playing and started huffing with us.
JEANIE: Hmm, that doesn’t sound like you Kim. Were you having fun like Beth said?
KIM: No… I… I… I don’t like this game. They took my Teddy, and they’re better at throwing than me and I always end up as piggy in the middle.
Kim lifts her head to say this and then slumps back down at the end.
PATRICK: How were we supposed to know you weren’t having fun?
JEANIE: It’s important to listen to what people are saying with their words, but sometimes their face and actions can tell us how they are feeling too.
BETH: How can you listen to someone's face? That’s silly.
JEANIE: Well Beth, maybe while you were playing your game you should have looked at Kim too. You would have noticed that she wasn’t smiling and that she was starting to get upset.
Patrick and Beth look sheepish.
PATRICK: I’m sorry Kim. We won’t make you play that game with us again.
BETH: Yeah we’re sorry Kim. We didn’t mean to make you sad.
The kids all group hug. Beth hands the teddy back.
BETH: I don’t think you’re too old to play with teddys either. I have loads at home.
The kids all smile and start playing something else together.
NARRATOR: It’s always important to listen to your friends and keep an eye on what their actions tell you. If they don’t look happy it might mean there is something wrong and you need to ask them to talk to you about it.
End.
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