65 Fun and Easy Social Emotional Activities for Preschoolers

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Equip yourself with a comprehensive list of 65 fun social emotional activities for preschoolers that parents and teachers can use to help your kids develop crucial emotional and social skills.

Are you like most normal parents and teachers who have preschoolers who throw temper tantrums, don’t seem to get along with others, or could use a boost in their self-confidence?

I’m with you!

As both a parent of a preschooler AND a former preschool teacher, I know that it can be tough navigating through how to encourage healthy emotional and social habits in our young kids.

That’s why I’ve created not only a massive list of social emotional learning activities but below I’ve also explained what social emotional learning is, why it’s important for preschoolers, and how you can incorporate them into your child’s daily routine. You’re welcome!

Let’s get started!

Definition of social emotional learning

Social emotional learning, or SEL, is all about helping your kids develop the skills they need to navigate their emotions and build positive relationships with others. 

It’s not just about learning math and science, but also about learning how to communicate effectively, understand and express emotions in a healthy way, and work collaboratively with others.

By creating emotional and social skills lesson plans with our little ones, we can help them develop important life skills that will serve them well as they grow and mature. 

These SEL skills include:

• Self-awareness
• Self-management
• Social awareness
• Relationship skills
• Responsible decision-making

Importance of Social and Emotional Development in Early Childhood

As your preschool-aged children begin to interact and play more with their peers, they will have the opportunity to learn skills like managing stress, regulating their emotions, and problem-solving.

Using effective social emotional strategies to guide your child through these opportunities can give them the tools to set a strong foundation for their future as healthy adults.

Benefits of Social Emotional Learning

One of the main benefits of SEL is that it helps children develop crucial emotional and social skills for preschoolers that lead to opportunity. Skills like empathy, self-awareness, self-regulation, communication, and problem-solving equip your children to navigate their emotions and build positive relationships with peers and adults.

Social emotional learning can also help children develop resilience and cope with challenges. By teaching them strategies for managing stress, regulating their emotions, and problem-solving, we give them the tools they need to face adversity with confidence and adaptability. 

These activities can also have a positive impact on academic achievement. When children feel emotionally safe and supported, they’re more likely to engage in learning and perform well academically. 

Regular SEL practice can have long-lasting effects on your child’s mental health and well-being. When children learn to manage their emotions, communicate effectively, and build positive relationships, they’re more likely to have a positive outlook on life and experience less stress and anxiety.

This can set them up for success in all areas of life, from personal relationships to professional endeavors later on.

65 Easy Social Emotional Learning Activities

It’s time for what you’ve been waiting for!

The list of engaging social emotional learning activities below will help your preschooler practice many different areas of social emotional skills.

I suggest you pick a handful to do with your child to give them a well rounded experience and expose them to many different SEL opportunities.

SEL Activities Preschoolers Can Do Independently

1. Play with sensory toys, like playdough or kinetic sand, and other creative sensory hacks to regulate emotions
2. Use a mirror to identify and label facial expressions
3. Draw self-portraits are great self-concept activities for toddlers and preschoolers
4. Practice deep breathing exercises to promote relaxation and emotional regulation
5. Listen to music and discuss how it makes them feel
6. Create emotion faces for preschool with a positive self-image collage to promote self-esteem
7. Read books about emotions and discuss how characters feel
8. Use guided imagery to visualize positive outcomes and reduce anxiety
9. Practice self-reflection through a coloring journal
10. Practice positive self-talk through affirmations and mantras
11. Practice mindfulness through yoga or stretching exercises
12. Create a feelings jar to shake and release strong emotions
13. Create feelings crafts for preschoolers to use as self-concept activities for preschoolers
14. Use relaxation techniques, like progressive muscle relaxation, to promote emotional regulation
15. Use crafts about feelings like painting emotions on rocks to encourage self-expression
16. Use fidget toys or stress balls to regulate emotions
17. Listen to calming music or sounds to promote relaxation and emotional regulation

Small Group Activities for Preschoolers

18. Play the hot potato game to promote socialization and connection
19. Use cooperative games, like Pass the Hoop to encourage teamwork and cooperation
20. Play a game of emotions bingo to reinforce emotional recognition and labeling
21. Use puppets to act out social situations and encourage problem-solving
22. Create a feelings collage as a group to label and discuss different emotions
23. Play a game of guess the emotion with facial expressions or body language
24. Use role-playing to practice problem-solving and social scenarios for kids
25. Have a group discussion about empathy and compassion
26. Use music and movement to promote emotional regulation and expression
27. Play feelings charades to reinforce emotional recognition and labeling
28. Use cooperative physical activities, like group jump rope, to promote teamwork
29. Use games, like feelings Jenga, to reinforce emotional recognition and regulation
30. Use movement activities to promote self expression
31. Use cooperative SEL art activities, like a group mural
32. Play group balloon volleyball to promote teamwork
33. Create a feelings scavenger hunt to reinforce emotional recognition and labeling
34. Use social stories to teach conflict resolution and problem-solving
35. Play freeze tag to reinforce self regulation

Social Emotional Learning Lessons for the Classroom

36. Use interactive games, like Simon Says or Red Light, Green Light, to promote self-control
37. Try these peace corner ideas with quiet activities for preschoolers to use to self-regulate
38. Create a emotion identification chart like a feelings thermometer to identify and discuss different emotions
39. Use picture books to teach emotional intelligence and empathy
40. Use sensory activities, like water play or sensory bins, to regulate emotions
41. Use finger puppets to encourage emotional play and social interaction
42. Play feelings memory game to reinforce emotional recognition and labeling
43. Practice mindfulness through guided visualizations or body scans
44. Use SEL check in pictures to start the day and promote emotional awareness
45. Use guided breathing exercises, like balloon breaths, to promote relaxation and emotional regulation
46. Play a feelings board game to reinforce emotional recognition and labeling
47. Play the telephone game but use prompts about emotions or social scenarios to reinforce emotional recognition and communication skills
48. Use turn-taking and sharing activities for preschoolers, like follow the leader, to promote cooperation
49. Play crab soccer to promote working together

Social Emotional Activities For Preschoolers To Do At Home

50. Use board games, like Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders, to teach social skills and turn-taking
51. Color growth mindset coloring pages to encourage mindfulness and calming skills.
52. Practice mindfulness through nature walks or outdoor exploration
53. Make a feelings collage with pictures from magazines to label and discuss different emotions
54. Create a vision board to encourage to encourage positive self-love
55. Practice gratitude through a family thankful jar
56. Use imaginative play to practice social skills and problem-solving
57. Create a feelings wheel to identify and label different emotions
58. Make your own emojis to identify emotions 
59. Create a feelings tree to label and discuss different emotions
60. Use coloring sheets to promote self-regulation and creativity
61. Learn preschool emotion faces with playdough to for self-expression 
62. Have a family discussion about emotions and encourage sharing
63. Create a feelings puzzle to reinforce emotional recognition and labeling
64. Set up a low-prep family obstacle course to promote cooperation and teamwork
65. Create a feelings memory book to reinforce emotional recognition and labeling

Conclusion: 65 Fun and Easy Social Emotional Activities for Preschoolers

Remember, social emotional learning is a lifelong journey that requires patience, consistency, and intentional practice (especially when you are working with wiggly preschoolers!). 

But with your guidance and support, your child can develop the skills they need to succeed in both their personal and academic lives.

So, don’t be afraid to try out several of the activities listed above to find what works best for your child.

What’s Next?

One of my favorite ways to develop SEL in my preschooler is by reading social emotional stories! 

Check out this list of my favorite SEL read alouds to develop emotionally intelligent kids!

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