What is Perspective Taking?
You see a little boy laying on the ground holding his arm and crying. You see a bike in the grass beside him.
I can't believe I fell off my bike! My arm hurts so bad!
A mother is frowning at a little boy who ate a cookie before he ate dinner.
Angry
A girl is crying while her mom gives her a band-aid. What does the mom wonder?
How did she hurt herself? How can I help her?
Tom wants cheese pizza and Jane wants pepperoni. They can only buy one pizza. What would Tom say to Jane?
Let's get a half cheese half pepperoni pizza.
You see a girl sitting at a desk with a pencil and paper with a confused expression on her face. What is she thinking?
This homework is hard!
Two boys are playing with Legos and building a castle together.
Happy
A boy is thinking about spring and looking out the window. What does he wonder?
Will the flowers will bloom soon? What is the temperature is outside?
Macy is playing on the slide when Joe comes up and says it's his turn to slide. Macy wants to slide more and doesn't want to leave the slide. What can Macy say?
Okay, let's take turns one at a time on the slide.
Why should you try to take someone else's perspective?
So you can better understand why another person says or does something.
You see a man with a surprised facial expression surrounded by people wearing birthday hats. What is the man thinking?
I cant believe it's a surprise birthday party!
A girl is sitting at a lunch table alone while the rest of the class sits together, talking and laughing.
sad, left out, uncomfortable
A mother is pointing her finger at a puppy holding a torn pillow and has her eyebrows pointed down and is frowning. What does the mother wonder?
Why did the puppy do this?
Chris and Mary both love chocolate cake. There is only one chocolate cake left. What can Chris say?
Let's split the chocolate cake.
What they already know about something, a past experience, or what they can tell about something from how it looks
A man is smiling at a dog at the park and petting it and throwing a toy.
I love my dog, I like playing with my dog.
Charlie takes Kara's juice box and starts drinking it without asking. What is Kara feeling?
Uncomfortable, angry
Skippy, the dog, is wagging his tail and jumping up and down when he sees his owner. What does the owner wonder?
What have you been doing today? Why is Skippy so happy?
Haley notices that Ashley got a new haircut. What can she say?
Haley I love your new hair style!
Why is perspective taking important?
To understand what is going on around you and understand what other people are thinking and feeling.
Perspective taking helps improve communication and reduces misunderstandings.
Stacy and Ryan are in line at the grocery store to pay for their food. A lady gets behind them in line and pushes them, yelling "Hurry up"! What are Stacy and Ryan thinking?
That lady is rude!
Patrick and Matt are talking to each other when all of a sudden Matt sneezes all over Patrick without covering his mouth or nose. How does Patrick feel?
disgusted
A boy is looking at a man, woman and little girl standing together. What does the boy wonder?
I wonder if they are a family? How are they related?
The Mitchell family is taking a vacation. Ms. Mitchell wants to go to the beach but Mr. Mitchell wants to go to an amusement park. What can Ms. Mitchell say?
Let's look at other vacation options and pick a place where there is a beach and an amusement park or pick a different place we both agree on.