We participated in several activities to explore the concept of personal space. Kindergarteners used a hula hoop to demonstrate the amount of personal space that we all need at school and learned that we all have a “comfort bubble”. The size of our comfort bubble varies based on our surroundings. For example, our comfort bubble will be much larger when we are near a stranger or in a new situation than when we are at home with our family. We discussed ways that someone’s body language or facial cues might signal to us that we are not respecting their personal space. We discovered how much personal space we take up on the carpet when we are standing or sitting versus lying down. Students also enjoyed making the “space orb” light up as they practiced asking their classmates for permission to touch their hand. We also practiced how showing respect for personal space when walking in line with our classmates.
We emphasized that our personal space belongs to us. Just as each of us acts as the “boss” of our hands, feet and words, we decide who can and cannot come into our personal space.