14 Social Skills Activities for Preschoolers

preschoolers learning social skills

Table of Contents

What are social skills?

Social skills are the tools that we use to interact with other people. They include things like communication, cooperation, emotional regulation, and empathy. This includes communicating effectively, resolving conflict, maintaining healthy relationships, and more. Social skills are essential for success in both personal and professional settings. For example, individuals who can efficiently communicate their ideas are more likely to be successful in their careers. Likewise, those who can resolve conflicts are better equipped to maintain positive relationships. Social skills are not static – they can be learned and improved with practice. There are many resources available to help individuals develop their social skills. Books, workshops, and online courses are all great options. It is essential to life, and there is no reason not to invest in improving them.

Why are social skills necessary for preschoolers?

Social skills are important for preschoolers because they help them to interact with other children and adults. These skills will be critical when they start school and begin to interact with other kids more regularly. Social skills help children to communicate effectively, resolve conflicts, and maintain positive relationships. Additionally, social skills are linked to academic success. For example, one study found that social skills are a better predictor of future academic success than IQ scores. This is likely because it helps children to focus, pay attention, and follow directions. It’s an essential skill for preschoolers to learn to be successful in school and life.

How can social skills be taught?

There are many ways to teach social skills. One way is to provide opportunities for children to practice it through play. For example, pretend play is an excellent way for children to practice communication and social problem-solving. Additionally, parents and teachers can model social skills for children. For example, you could model how to resolve conflict by calmly talking through a disagreement with your child. You could also provide opportunities for children to role-play social situations. For example, you could have them act out what it would be like to invite a friend for a playdate. There are many other ways to teach social skills, including books, games, and activities. The important thing is to provide opportunities for children to practice social skills in a safe and supportive environment.

14 fun activities for social skills enhancement. 

In Little Playhouse, our play-based curriculum also focuses on social skills activities and games. Here are 14 group-based activities for children. These group activities for preschoolers are perfect for helping them practice social skills like sharing, taking turns, and following rules:

1 | Play pretend games

Games like pretend tea parties or stores can be great for practicing social skills. For example, the children can take turns being hosts and guests in a pretend tea party. They can serve each other imaginary tea and cake and chat about their day. Playing store is also a fun way to practice social skills. The children can take turns being the store owner and the customer. They can learn how to count money, make a change, and practice their manners.

Both games are great for helping children develop social skills such as communication, cooperation, and turn-taking. So break out the pretend tea set or toy cash register, and let the fun begin!

2 | Do some crafts together.

Engaging in crafts is a great way for preschoolers to socialize and learn new skills. When working on a craft project together, they must take turns, listen to each other, and follow the rules. This can be a great way to learn how to cooperate and get along with others. Crafting can also help children develop their creativity and problem-solving skills.

Here are five examples of group craft projects that you can follow along at home:

  • Group Sculpture

Using clay or play dough, have each child make their individual sculpture. Once everyone is finished, encourage the children to combine their sculptures into one large group sculpture. This activity helps children to practice cooperation and sharing.

  • Finger Painting

Put some paint on each child’s fingers and let them go to work creating a masterpiece on a large sheet of paper. The children will learn about color mixing and cooperation as they work together.

  • Paper Chain Collage

Cut out construction paper strips and glue them together to create paper chains. Once the chains are complete, have the children attach them to a large piece of paper to create a colorful collage. This activity is excellent for developing fine motor skills.

  • Stained Glass Suncatchers

Cut out shapes from colored construction paper and have the children arrange them on a piece of clear contact paper. When they are happy with the design, our teachers will help them to tape the two parts of contact paper together around the edges. Next, hang the suncatchers in a window and enjoy the colorful light that shines through.

3 | Building Blocks

Give each child a building block set and challenge them to make the tallest tower possible. This activity promotes cooperation as well as problem-solving skills.

4 | The Cookie Jar Game

the cookie jar social skills game for preschoolers

This game is a great way to teach children about sharing and taking turns. The game’s objective is to see how many cookies each child can collect without getting their hand caught in the cookie jar. To play, you will need a small container for each child, a Timer, and some small treats like cookies or candies.

Place the Timer in the center of the play area and set it for one minute. Next, place the small containers around the edge of the play area, within reach of each child. Put a few treats in each container. When you say “go,” the children will start collecting cookies from their containers. They can use their hands or a spoon to transfer the cookies to their container. The child who collects the most cookies in one minute is the winner.

Children can play this game with two or more children. It’s a great way to teach them about sharing and taking turns.

5 | The Ball Toss Game

This game is a great way to teach children about cooperation. The game’s objective is to see how many times you can toss a ball back and forth between two players without dropping it. To play, you will need a small ball and two players.

Stand facing each other, about an arm’s length apart. Hold the ball in one hand. Toss the ball back and forth, trying to catch it in the other hand. The game is over when you drop the ball. The player who caught the ball the most times is the winner.

Children can play this game with two or more players. It’s a great way to teach them about cooperation and turn-taking.

6 | The Balloon Drop Game

This game is a great way to teach children about following rules. The game’s objective is to see how many times you can catch a balloon without dropping it. To play, you will need a balloon and two players.

One player will hold the balloon in their hand while the other player stands a few feet away. When you say “go,” the player with the balloon will start to drop it. The other player will try to catch the balloon before it hits the ground. The game is over when the balloon hits the ground. The player who caught the most balloons is the winner.

Kids can play this game with two or more players. It’s a great way to teach them about following rules and paying attention.

7 | The Simon Says Game

This game is a great way to teach children listening skills. The game’s objective is to see how well you can follow directions. To play, you will need one player to be “Simon” and at least one other player.

Simon will give the players commands, such as “jump up and down” or “touch your nose.” The players will follow the commands if Simon begins the order with the phrase “Simon says.” However, the players should not follow the command if Simon does not say this phrase before giving the order. The game is over when a player makes a mistake. The player who obeys the most commands correctly is the winner.

This game can be played with two or more players. It’s a great way to teach them about listening and following directions.

8 | The Hot Potato Game

This game is a great way to teach children about paying attention. The objective of the game is to see how long you can keep a potato in the air without dropping it. You will need a small ball or a potato and two players to play.

One player will start by tossing the potato to the other player. The second player will then throw it back. This will continue until someone drops the potato. The player who drops the potato is out of the game. The last player standing is the winner.

This game can be played with two or more players. It’s a great way to teach them about paying attention and following rules.

9 | The Balloon Pop Game

This game is a great way to teach children about self-control. The objective of the game is to see how long you can keep a balloon from popping. To play, you will need a balloon and two players.

One player will hold the balloon while the other tries to pop it with their finger. The game is over when the balloon pops. The player who keeps the balloon from popping for the longest time is the winner.

This game can be played with two or more players. It’s a great way to teach them about self-control and patience.

10 | The Balance Beam Game

preschoolers playing the balance beam game in social skills program

This game is a great way to teach children about coordination. The game’s objective is to see how long you can balance on a beam without falling off. To play, you will need a balance beam and two players.

One player will start by walking on the beam. Then, the other player will try to knock them off by throwing balls at them. The game is over when the player falls off the beam. The last player standing is the winner.

This game can be played with two or more players. It’s a great way to teach them about coordination and balance.

11 | The Follow the Leader Game

This game is a great way to teach children about following directions. The objective of the game is to see how well you can follow the leader. You will need one player to be the leader and at least one other player to play.

The leader will start by doing a simple action, such as clapping their hands or stomping their feet. The other players will then copy the leader. The game is over when a player makes a mistake. The player who follows the most actions correctly is the winner.

This game can be played with two or more players. It’s a great way to teach them about following directions and paying attention.

12 | The Beanbag Toss Game

This game is a great way to teach children about hand-eye coordination. The game’s objective is to see how many beanbags you can toss into a bucket in one minute. To play, you will need a bucket and two players.

One player will start by tossing beanbags into the bucket. The other player will try to stop them by throwing balls at them. The game is over when the minute is up. The player who tosses the most beanbags into the bucket is the winner.

This game can be played with two or more players. It’s a great way to teach them about hand-eye coordination and aim.

13 | The Telephone Game

This game is a great way to teach children about communication. The objective of the game is to see how well you can remember a message. To play, you will need two players.

One player will start by whispering a message into another player’s ear. The second player will then whisper what they heard to the next player. This will continue until the message gets back to the first player. The game is over when the message gets back to the first player. The player who remembers the most words is the winner.

This game can be played with two or more players. It’s a great way to teach them communication and listening skills.

14 | The Tower of Cups Game

This game is a great way to teach children about planning and cooperation. The game’s objective is to see how high you can stack a tower of cups without falling over. To play, you will need a set of cups and two players.

One player will start by stacking the cups into a tower. Then, the other player will try to knock it over by throwing balls at it. The game is over when the tower falls over. The player who can stack the most cups without falling is the winner.

This game can be played with two or more players. It’s a great way to teach them about planning and cooperation.

Summary

In Little Playhouse, we have seen firsthand the benefits of social skills activities for children. These activities help children to develop critical social skills such as cooperation, communication, and empathy. In addition, social skills activities can help to reduce stress and anxiety in children. Studies have shown that social skills training can improve children’s academic performance and help them succeed in school. Social skills activities are an important part of any child’s education and can impact their social and emotional development