Have you ever wondered how well your child gets along with other kids? Strong social skills are what help children make friends, do well in school, and feel happy and confident. In this blog, we’ll explore 12 fun and engaging social skills activities you can do with your child or students!
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1. Online Social Skill Games
A. Polyword Game
Polyword game is an interactive online multiplayer game where kids can have fun while improving their vocabulary and spelling skills. Players take turns forming words using a set of given letters, competing against friends or other players.
How it helps: With various difficulty levels and engaging gameplay, it’s a great way for kids to enhance their language and social skills.
B. Two of a Kind
In this fun game, the goal is simple: match pairs of cards with similar images or words. With colorful graphics and easy-to-understand rules, it’s perfect for fostering teamwork and cognitive skills in children.
How it helps: Whether playing with siblings or classmates, Two of a Kind promises hours of fun and learning. Additionally, it enhances memory and concentration abilities, vital for socializing and learning in various settings.
Related Reading: Best Concentration Games for Kids to Improve their Focus
2. Show and Tell with a Twist
Looking for a more engaging way to practice communication in a group setting? In this twist on Show and Tell, children bring an object from home. However, they can’t reveal what it is! Instead, they must describe the object using its features, size, texture, or sound it makes. The other players ask questions to try and guess the object.
How it helps: Children learn to express themselves clearly using details, while others hone their listening and questioning skills.
3. “Would You Rather?” Questions
Would you rather game is one of the most thought-provoking social skills activities for kindergarteners to get them talking and considering different perspectives. Take turns asking each other “Would you rather…” questions that have two silly or interesting options. For example, “Would you rather fly or be invisible?” Encourage children to explain why they would choose one option over the other.
How it helps: Children practice expressing their opinions and reasoning while also learning to see things from another person’s perspective.
Related Reading: Best and Fun 'Would You Rather' Questions for Kids
4. Puppet Role-Playing
Help your child develop their conflict resolution skills with some fun puppet role-playing. Create scenarios with puppets where children need to resolve conflicts. This could involve sharing toys, taking turns on the playground, or dealing with hurt feelings. Encourage your child to act out different ways to handle the situation and discuss the outcome of each scenario.
How it helps: Puppet role-playing allows children to practice problem-solving and communication skills in a safe and controlled environment. By acting out different scenarios, they can explore various approaches to conflict resolution and learn valuable social skills.
5. Building Blocks
Building blocks is one of the best social skills games for preschoolers. Kids can take turns choosing blocks and stacking them together to build anything they imagine. They can talk about their ideas and work together to make their creation!
How it helps: Building blocks encourage teamwork and sharing as kids work together to create. They also help improve communication skills as kids discuss their ideas and make decisions together.
Related Reading: Best Indoor and Outdoor Team Building Activities for Kids
6. “Feeling Faces” Mirror Game
If you are looking for fun social skills activities for elementary students, here is a fun one. Make silly faces in a mirror together. Ask your child to name the emotions the faces might represent. For example, a furrowed brow could be “angry” while a big smile might be “happy.” You can also take turns making faces and have your child guess yours!
How it helps: This playful social skills activity for preschoolers helps them identify and label their own emotions, as well as recognize emotions in others. This is a foundational skill for building strong social relationships.
7. Telephone Tag with a Twist
This classic game gets a makeover to focus on communication! Instead of whispering a message, have the first player describe an object in detail without saying its name. The next player listens carefully, then whispers their guess to the next person. Continue until the final player reveals the object.
How it helps: This is one of the best social skills activities for students to practice giving and receiving instructions and actively listening to understand the message.
Related Reading: Best Listening Activities for Kids
8. Story Time with Feeling Discussion
Reading stories together is a wonderful way to spark conversations about emotions. Choose books with characters who experience a range of emotions. As you read, pause to discuss how the characters might feel based on their actions and facial expressions. Ask your child questions like “Why do you think the character feels sad?” or “How would you feel if you were in that situation?”
How it helps: Engaging in discussions about emotions in stories allows young children to develop empathy and understand how their emotions and actions can impact others.
Related Reading: Best Empathy Activities for Kids to Foster Kindness
9. Board Games
Board games are a classic way to have fun, but they can also be a fantastic tool for developing social skills! Choose games that emphasize turn-taking, sharing, and following rules. These are all fundamental aspects of social interaction. Many board games can be adapted for social skills group activities, making them a versatile tool for fostering positive social interactions.
How it helps: Board games provide a fun and engaging environment for children to practice turn-taking, sharing, and following rules, all of which are essential for building strong social skills.
10. Group Art Project
Gather some art supplies like paints, markers, or crayons and a large piece of paper or cardboard. Work together as a family or group to create a collaborative piece of art. Discuss ideas, take turns adding to the artwork, and encourage creative collaboration.
How it helps: This activity is a great way for children to learn to work together towards a common goal and communicate their ideas effectively.
11. The Fort Building Challenge
Get some blankets, pillows, and chairs, and prepare for a fun social skills challenge. The goal? To build the most epic fort together! This activity encourages collaboration and problem-solving as children work together to design and construct their fort. They’ll need to communicate their ideas, negotiate space usage, and solve any structural problems that arise.
How it helps: The fort-building challenge is fun for children to practice teamwork and problem-solving skills in a creative and engaging setting. These skills are essential for navigating social situations and working effectively with others.
Related Reading: Fun Problem-Solving Activities for Growth Mindset
12. “Simon Says” Gets Social
Give the classic game “Simon Says” a social twist to add a fun element to social development activities! Instead of just physical actions, incorporate social actions like “Simon Says give a compliment to someone” or “Simon Says introduce yourself to someone new.”
How it helps: This twist on “Simon Says” injects a dose of social interaction into a familiar game. It allows children to practice important social skills like giving compliments and introducing themselves in a safe and playful environment.
Related Reading: Fun Social Emotional Activities for Preschoolers
Conclusion
Helping your child develop strong social skills is an important part of their growth. By incorporating fun activities like these into your daily routines, you can equip them with the tools they need to navigate friendships, manage emotions, and build strong relationships. So have fun exploring these activities together and watch your child blossom!
Related Reading: Best Life Skills Activities for Kids
