May I? Yes, Thanks or No, Thanks

When the music stops, each child goes up to a classmate and asks if they'd like a touch greeting (high five, hug, handshake); the partner answers with a green card (“Yes, thanks”) or a red card (“No, thanks”), and both answers get cheered. Kids practice asking permission, saying no, and accepting a no.

How to play

1. In a circle, the teacher gives each child one green and one red card and acts out both answers with a stuffed animal, cheering both with an “Okay!” (2 min).
2. Music plays and everyone dances; when it stops, they find someone nearby and ask, “Want to high five?” and the partner answers with a card (2 min).
3. Green means high five; red means a no-touch greeting, a wave or a bow, and saying “Okay!” (2 min).
4. New questions at every stop with a different partner: “Want to shake hands?” “A bear hug?” “Dance holding hands?” (3 min).
5. Inventor round: each child offers their favorite greeting to a new partner and waits for the card (2 min).
6. In the circle, ask who used the red card at least once, and everyone claps because they said what they wanted (1 min).

Rules

• I ask before touching.
• I can say yes or no, and both are fine.
• If someone says no, I say “Okay!” and greet without touching.
• At every stop, I find a different friend.

Variations

Adaptations

• Autism: the child can decide in advance to always use red and wave; preview the game with a social story.
• Hearing impairment: the cards make answers visual; the teacher stops the music by raising both hands.
• Language difficulties: the card is enough of an answer, and the question can be asked by pointing to a picture of the greeting.

Learning goals

• Ask permission before physical contact.
• Say yes or no with confidence.
• Accept someone else's answer without getting upset.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Green and red cards: 50
• Music

Teacher tip

Make the red card just as rewarding as green: a cheerful “Okay!” and a nice greeting. The common slip is pushing (“Come on, say yes!”); stop it calmly and say, “They said no thanks; how can we greet them without touching?”

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