Watch the child in interaction with peers or an adult during play.
If a peer is not available to watch, the adult can follow the child’s lead.
Depending on the activity and the comfort and skill level of the child, he will at times tell the adult or peer what to do. With activities where confidence is lower, he will watch and imitate the other player.
Encourage early childhood educators and parents to play with the child in a variety of different types of play. They can encourage the child to lead by saying, “What should I do now?” They can also demonstrate an idea for the child to follow. Learning to balance the leader/follower roles is an important skill for the child to learn.
 North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, 2015
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