With all the scraps of fabric I have left over from sewing projects, I make little puffy hearts that are just right for holding in your hand. Last fall, I began using the hearts for my preschool and kindergarten dance classes. For those age groups, we spend much time moving around as a group, but there are also times when children need to wait their turn quietly - and that can be challenging.
I noticed how much kids like holding the hearts their hands and wondered if the hearts could be used in facilitating turn-taking. This is how it works. When we come to a turn-taking part of the class, I ask everyone to take a heart. They learn that when they have a heart in their hand, it is time to be quiet and wait till they hear their name. When they hear their name, they bring me the heart and after taking a turn, I give it back to them.
At the final class of the session, they each take a heart home to keep.