The early years of childhood are more than a stage of learning letters and numbers. They are also a critical period for developing the social and emotional skills that shape how children see themselves and interact with others. Well-designed social and emotional learning activities help children practice essential abilities like recognizing feelings, showing empathy, managing emotions, and working with peers in positive ways.

When these activities are woven into daily routines, children gain the chance to learn through play and real-life situations. Whether it’s taking turns in a game, calming down with mindful breathing, or expressing gratitude, social and emotional learning activities provide meaningful opportunities for growth. They transform everyday moments into valuable lessons that prepare children for future challenges.

This article introduces 20 carefully selected social and emotional learning activities tailored for early childhood. Each activity is simple, practical, and developmentally appropriate, offering teachers and parents effective ways to support children’s healthy emotional and social development.

What is social and emotional learning?

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process of helping children build the life skills they need beyond academics. It plays an important role in early childhood development, guiding young learners as they learn to understand themselves, connect with others, and make thoughtful choices.

In my previous article, I shared the key components of social and emotional development. To give a quick overview, the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) highlights five essential areas:

• Self-Awareness: Children begin to recognize their own feelings, strengths, and what makes them unique.
• Self-Management: They practice calming down when upset, handling frustration, and staying focused on tasks.
• Social Awareness: Kids learn to notice how others feel, show empathy, and respect different perspectives.
• Relationship Skills: They start building friendships, cooperating in groups, and solving conflicts in positive ways.
• Responsible Decision-Making: Children learn to make safe and caring choices that consider both themselves and others.

These five areas form the foundation of SEL in early childhood. The real growth happens when children practice these skills in everyday situations. That is why we have gathered 20 engaging social and emotional learning activities, simple and practical tools that teachers and parents can use to support healthy development.

Social and Emotional Learning Activities

Activity 1: Emotion Flashcards Game

Overview:
The Emotion Flashcards Game is a playful social and emotional learning activity where children match facial expressions to emotions. By practicing with flashcards, young learners build emotional vocabulary and gain confidence in identifying feelings, both in themselves and others.

SEL Skills Developed:
This activity strengthens self-awareness and social awareness. Students learn to recognize emotions in others, expand their emotional vocabulary, and begin practicing empathy.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Prepare a set of cards showing faces with different emotions, such as happy, sad, angry, or surprised.
2. Hold up a card and ask the child, “What feeling is this?”
3. Encourage them to mimic the expression with their own face.
4. Discuss situations where they might feel that emotion: “When do you feel excited?”
5. For groups, turn it into a matching game by pairing the flashcard with a short story or classroom scenario.

Age Range / Setting:
Best for toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary students. Can be done at home, in small groups, or as a circle-time activity.

Tips for Educators/Parents:

• Use diverse and inclusive images to represent a wide range of people.
• Keep sessions short and fun to match children’s attention spans.
• Reinforce the learning by linking emotions to daily classroom or home experiences.

Activity 2: Feelings Circle Time

Overview:
Feelings Circle Time is a daily check-in where children gather in a circle and take turns sharing how they feel. Using a “talking piece,” each child speaks while others listen. This safe space allows students to express themselves openly and learn to value others’ perspectives.

SEL Skills Developed:
This activity strengthens social awareness and relationship skills. Students practice empathy, active listening, and respectful communication while building trust in the group.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Gather children in a circle where everyone can see each other.
2. Introduce a “talking piece” so that only the person holding it may speak.
3. Ask a simple feelings question, such as, “How are you feeling today?” O “What made you happy this morning?”
4. Pass the talking piece around so each child has a chance to share.
5. Close with a brief group reflection, acknowledging the range of feelings expressed.

Age Range / Setting:
Ideal for preschool and early elementary classrooms, but can also be adapted for family discussions at home.

Tips for Educators/Parents:

• Model sharing first to set an example.
• Encourage listening without interruptions.
• Keep it brief, about 5 to 10 minutes is enough for young children.
• Use emotion charts or picture prompts to help children find the right words.

Activity 3: Mindful Breathing with a Breathing Ball

Overview:
Mindful breathing with a breathing ball is a calming SEL activity for young children that teaches them how to regulate their emotions through slow, deep breaths. The expandable ball serves as a visual aid, opening as they inhale and closing as they exhale, which makes the abstract concept of breathing concrete and fun.

SEL Skills Developed:
This activity strengthens self-awareness and self-management. Students learn how to notice their emotions, calm their bodies, and manage stress or frustration in healthy ways.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Sit the children in a circle and introduce the breathing ball.
2. Demonstrate: as you open the ball, breathe in slowly through your nose; as you close it, exhale slowly through your mouth.
3. Invite the children to follow along, matching their breath to the movement of the ball.
4. Practice together for 3–5 cycles, keeping the pace calm and steady.
5. Afterward, ask the group how they feel compared to before the exercise.

Age Range / Setting:
Perfect for preschoolers and early elementary students. It can be used in classrooms at the start of the day, after recess, or at home before bedtime.

Tips for Educators/Parents:

• Keep the exercise short at first (1–2 minutes) to suit young children’s attention spans.
• Use soft background music or a gentle chime to enhance the calming effect.
• Encourage children to practice on their own when they feel upset or need a break.

Activity 4: Gratitude Tree with Leaves

Overview:
The Gratitude Tree is a creative social and emotional learning activity where children write or draw things they are thankful for on paper leaves, which are then added to a classroom or home “tree.” Over time, the tree grows fuller, serving as a visual reminder of positivity and appreciation.

SEL Skills Developed:
This activity strengthens self-awareness and responsible decision-making. Students practice recognizing positive experiences in their lives and develop a habit of focusing on gratitude, which supports kindness and empathy.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Create a large paper tree trunk on a wall or bulletin board.
2. Cut out colorful paper leaves or provide leaf-shaped templates.
3. Each day or week, ask children to write (or draw) one thing they feel grateful for on a leaf.
4. Add the leaves to the tree so it gradually “grows” with positive experiences.
5. Occasionally, review the tree as a group, celebrating the things that make children happy.

Age Range / Setting:
Best for preschool and early elementary classrooms, but also works beautifully as a family activity at home.

Tips for Educators/Parents:

• For non-writers, allow children to draw simple pictures of what they’re grateful for.
• Encourage sharing, but never force it because gratitude can be personal.
• Connect the activity to kindness by discussing how gratitude can inspire caring actions.‘’

Activity 5: Emotion Charades

Overview:
Emotion Charades is a lively SEL game where children act out different feelings while their peers guess the emotion. By turning emotions into a fun guessing game, children strengthen their ability to recognize emotional expressions and respond with empathy.

SEL Skills Developed:
This activity strengthens social awareness and relationship skills. Students learn to read emotional cues in others, practice perspective-taking, and respond in supportive ways.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Write different emotions (happy, sad, scared, angry, surprised, excited) on slips of paper or use picture cards.
2. Invite one child to pick a card and act out the emotion using only facial expressions and body language without using words.
3. The rest of the group guesses which emotion is being shown.
4. After the correct answer, ask the group: “When might you feel this way?”
5. Rotate turns until every child has had a chance to participate.

Age Range / Setting:
Perfect for preschool and early elementary classrooms, small groups, or family playtime at home.

Tips for Educators/Parents:

• Keep the emotions simple at first, then introduce more complex ones like “proud” or “confused.”
• Use a timer for each round to keep the game exciting.
• Praise children not just for correct guesses but also for creative acting.
• Always end with a short reflection to connect the game back to real-life feelings.

Activity 6: Kindness Jar

Overview:
The Kindness Jar is a visual SEL activity that encourages children to recognize and celebrate acts of kindness in the classroom or at home. Each time a child does something kind, such as sharing toys, helping a friend, or using kind words, they add a token or slip of paper to the jar. Over time, the jar fills up as a symbol of positive behavior and a caring community.

SEL Skills Developed:
This activity strengthens relationship skills and responsible decision-making. Students learn the value of kindness, understand how their actions affect others, and are motivated to make caring choices.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Place a clear jar in a visible spot in the classroom or home.
2. Provide slips of paper, pom-poms, or tokens that can be added to the jar.
3. When someone notices a kind act, they (or the teacher/parent) write it down or add a token to the jar.
4. Celebrate progress as the jar fills, for example, by having a group story time, singing a song, or sharing a simple cheer.
5. At the end of the week or month, review the acts of kindness together.

Age Range / Setting:
Best for preschoolers and early elementary children in group settings like classrooms, but also a fun and meaningful family activity at home.

Tips for Educators/Parents:

• Emphasize that kindness comes in many forms, big or small.
• Encourage children to notice and celebrate one another’s kindness, not just their own.
• Keep rewards simple and collective because this is about community, not competition.
• Use the jar as a conversation starter: “How did it feel when someone added your act of kindness to the jar?”

Activity 7: Friendship Bracelet Making

Overview:
Friendship Bracelet Making is a hands-on social and emotional learning activity where children create simple bracelets to give to friends or family members. This creative process promotes sharing, caring, and the joy of giving, while also encouraging fine motor skills and patience.

SEL Skills Developed:
This activity strengthens relationship skills and social awareness. Students learn to express appreciation for others, practice generosity, and build stronger social connections.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Provide children with colorful beads, yarn, or string.
2. Demonstrate how to thread beads or tie knots to create a simple bracelet.
3. Encourage each child to make a bracelet for a specific person, such as a classmate, sibling, or parent.
4. Once finished, have them present the bracelet to that person, along with kind words like “I made this for you because you’re my friend.”
5. End with a short reflection on how it feels to give and receive something handmade.

Age Range / Setting:
Best for preschool and early elementary classrooms, art corners, or at home with family.

Tips for Educators/Parents:

• Keep the materials simple and safe for young children.
• Offer choices of colors or beads so children can personalize their bracelets.
• Use the activity to talk about what makes a good friend, such as kindness, sharing, and helping.
• Focus on the meaning of the gift, not perfection in the bracelet.

Activity 8: Mirror Faces Game

Overview:
The Mirror Faces Game is a playful SEL activity for early childhood that helps children recognize and imitate facial expressions linked to emotions. One child makes a “feeling face,” and the others act like a mirror, copying the expression. This lighthearted game makes emotional recognition interactive and fun.

SEL Skills Developed:
This activity strengthens self-awareness and social awareness. Students practice identifying emotions in themselves, noticing emotional cues in others, and building empathy through imitation.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Gather children in a circle or small group.
2. Choose one child (or the teacher) to make a facial expression, such as happy, sad, angry, surprised, or scared.
3. Ask the group to copy the expression like a mirror.
4. Afterward, ask: “What emotion was this?” e “When do you feel this way?”
5. Rotate turns so each child gets to lead the group in making a face.

Age Range / Setting:
Perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary students, either in classrooms or at home.

Tips for Educators/Parents:

• Start with basic emotions, then introduce more complex ones like “proud” or “confused.”
• Encourage children to exaggerate expressions to make them more recognizable.
• Use a real mirror for younger kids to watch themselves and connect the expression to the feeling.
• Reinforce learning by linking emotions to real situations in daily routines.

Activity 9: Storytime with Feelings Reflection

Overview:
Storytime with Feelings Reflection is a meaningful social and emotional learning activity where children listen to a story and then talk about the emotions of the characters. By connecting literature to emotions, children practice understanding perspectives and relating feelings to their own experiences.

SEL Skills Developed:
This activity strengthens social awareness and responsible decision-making. Students learn to recognize emotions in others, build empathy for different characters, and think about how choices affect feelings.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Choose a storybook with clear emotional themes (friendship, sharing, kindness, or problem-solving).
2. Read the story aloud, pausing at key moments to ask, “How do you think this character feels right now?”
3. Encourage children to explain why they think the character feels that way.
4. After finishing the story, discuss how the characters solved their problems and what other choices they might have made.
5. Invite children to share a time when they felt the same way as one of the characters.

Age Range / Setting:
Best for preschool and early elementary classrooms, libraries, or family reading time at home.

Tips for Educators/Parents:

• Select age-appropriate books with simple, relatable themes.
• Use picture cues to help children connect expressions with emotions.
• Reinforce lessons by asking reflective questions: “What would you do if you were this character?”
• Encourage children to act out parts of the story to deepen engagement.

Activity 10: Emotion Sorting with Pictures or Toys

Overview:
Emotion Sorting with Pictures or Toys is a hands-on SEL activity where children match different faces or toys to corresponding emotions. By physically sorting objects into categories like “happy,” “sad,” or “angry,” children strengthen their ability to identify and label feelings concretely.

SEL Skills Developed:
This activity strengthens self-awareness and responsible decision-making. Students learn to recognize emotions in themselves, practice classifying feelings, and begin to think about how to respond to those emotions constructively.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Prepare cards with pictures of faces showing emotions or gather toys with expressive faces.
2. Label containers or sections of a board with emotion words (happy, sad, scared, angry).
3. Ask children to place each card or toy into the category that matches the feeling.
4. After sorting, talk about each emotion: “What makes you feel happy?” O “What can you do when you feel mad?”
5. For a group activity, let children work together to discuss and decide where each picture belongs.

Age Range / Setting:
Ideal for preschool and early elementary settings, as well as at-home play with parents.

Tips for Educators/Parents:

• Start with a few basic emotions and add more as children gain confidence.
• Use real-life photos of children (with permission) to make the activity more relatable.
• Reinforce learning by linking sorted emotions to daily routines: “You put this face in ‘sad.’ Can you remember a time when you felt sad?”
• Keep it interactive by praising teamwork and thoughtful answers.

Activity 11: Calm Corner

Overview:
A Calm Corner is a cozy space in the classroom or at home where children can go when they feel overwhelmed, upset, or need a break. This social and emotional learning activity gives children a safe environment to practice calming strategies and regain control of their emotions.

SEL Skills Developed:
This activity strengthens self-awareness and self-management. Students learn to recognize when they are upset, choose calming strategies, and return to activities feeling more balanced.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Designate a quiet corner with soft seating, pillows, or a small rug.
2. Add calming tools such as stress balls, picture books, emotion charts, or sensory bottles.
3. Teach children how to use the Calm Corner when they feel angry, sad, or overstimulated.
4. Allow them to spend a few minutes there, practicing breathing or mindfulness activities.
5. Invite them back to group activities once they feel ready, without judgment or pressure.

Age Range / Setting:
Perfect for preschool and early elementary classrooms, as well as home environments where children need a self-regulation tool.

Tips for Educators/Parents:

• Clearly explain that the Calm Corner is not a punishment, but a safe space to relax.
• Rotate calming tools to keep children engaged (e.g., coloring pages, fidget toys, calming music).
• Encourage children to verbalize their feelings before or after using the Calm Corner.
• Model using the space occasionally yourself to show that everyone needs a break sometimes.

Activity 12: Feelings Bingo

Overview:
Feelings Bingo is a playful SEL activity that helps children recognize and name emotions while having fun. Instead of numbers, the bingo cards feature faces or drawings showing different emotions. As children identify and match emotions, they become more comfortable talking about feelings.

SEL Skills Developed:
This activity strengthens social awareness and relationship skills. Students learn to recognize emotional expressions, listen carefully to others, and engage in supportive peer interactions.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Create bingo cards with various emotions (happy, sad, angry, scared, surprised, excited).
2. Prepare matching emotion cards or call out scenarios like “You lost your toy” (sad) or “Your friend gave you a gift” (happy).
3. Children cover the corresponding emotion square on their bingo cards.
4. The first child to cover a row or column shouts “Bingo!”
5. After each round, discuss a few of the emotions: “When do you feel surprised?” O “What helps you when you’re scared?”

Age Range / Setting:
Great for preschool and early elementary classrooms, but also fun as a family game at home.

Tips for Educators/Parents:

• Use both pictures and words to support different learning levels.
• Keep the game short to match children’s attention spans.
• Encourage discussion rather than focusing only on winning.
• Celebrate participation and teamwork as much as the final “Bingo.”

Activity 13: Compliment Chain

Overview:
The Compliment Chain is a heartwarming SEL activity where children give kind words to each other, linking their compliments together like a growing chain. This practice promotes positivity, builds self-esteem, and encourages children to notice the good in others.

SEL Skills Developed:
This activity strengthens relationship skills and social awareness. Students practice empathy by identifying positive qualities in peers and building stronger bonds through kindness.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Provide strips of colored paper.
2. Have each child write (or dictate) a compliment about another student, such as “You are a good friend because you share toys.”
3. Read the compliments aloud and connect the paper strips to form a paper chain.
4. Hang the chain in the classroom as a growing symbol of kindness and connection.
5. Continue adding to the chain over time, celebrating how long it becomes.

Age Range / Setting:
Ideal for preschool and early elementary classrooms, but can also be adapted as a family activity at home.

Tips for Educators/Parents:

• Model giving specific compliments so children learn to go beyond “You’re nice.”
• Encourage children to compliment different classmates, not just close friends.
• Reinforce the message that words can brighten someone’s day.
• Use the chain as a visual reminder of the positive community the group is building together.

Activity 14: Puppet Role-Play for Problem Solving

Overview:
Puppet Role-Play is a creative social and emotional learning activity that allows children to act out everyday challenges using puppets. By watching and participating in puppet shows, children learn different ways to handle conflicts, share, and express emotions safely.

SEL Skills Developed:
This activity strengthens responsible decision-making and relationship skills. Students explore positive ways to solve problems, learn respectful communication, and practice empathy through storytelling.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Provide simple puppets (sock puppets, paper bag puppets, or stuffed toys).
2. Set up a short scenario, such as two friends wanting the same toy or one child feeling left out.
3. Act out the situation with puppets, then pause and ask children: “What could the characters do next?”
4. Invite students to take turns using the puppets to role-play their ideas.
5. Wrap up by discussing which solutions were kind, fair, or helpful.

Age Range / Setting:
Perfect for preschool and early elementary classrooms, small group sessions, or at home during playtime.

Tips for Educators/Parents:

• Keep scenarios simple and relatable to children’s daily lives.
• Allow children to control the puppets and suggest their own solutions.
• Praise creative and kind problem-solving approaches.
• Rotate scenarios regularly to cover different social challenges (sharing, turn-taking, helping, etc.).

Activity 15: Cooperative Building Blocks Challenge

Overview:
The Cooperative Building Blocks Challenge is a teamwork-based SEL activity where children work together to build a tower, bridge, or structure using blocks. The focus isn’t on the tallest or fanciest creation, but on cooperation, sharing materials, and listening to each other’s ideas.

SEL Skills Developed:
This activity strengthens relationship skills and responsible decision-making. Students practice collaboration, problem-solving, and respecting different viewpoints while working toward a shared goal.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Provide a set of building blocks or similar materials.
2. Divide children into small groups and give them a challenge, such as building the tallest tower or a bridge strong enough to hold a toy.
3. Encourage group discussion about how to design and build together.
4. Observe and gently guide to ensure all children have a role in the process.
5. End by asking groups to share their creations and reflect on how they worked as a team.

Age Range / Setting:
Great for preschool and early elementary classrooms, as well as playgroups or home settings with siblings.

Tips for Educators/Parents:

• Emphasize cooperation over competition, and celebrate teamwork rather than comparing structures.
• Encourage children to use phrases like “Can I try?” O “Let’s do it together.”
• Rotate roles so each child gets a chance to lead or contribute an idea.
• Use this as a chance to discuss what makes teamwork fun and successful.

Activity 16: Daily Emotion Check-In Chart

Overview:
The Daily Emotion Check-In Chart is a visual social and emotional learning activity where children identify how they feel at the start of the day. By choosing an emotion card, picture, or magnet to place on the chart, children build emotional awareness and open the door to meaningful conversations about feelings.

SEL Skills Developed:
This activity strengthens self-awareness and social awareness. Students learn to recognize and label their emotions while also seeing that others experience a wide range of feelings.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Create a large chart with different feelings displayed (happy, sad, angry, worried, excited, tired).
2. Provide children with name tags, clips, or magnets to place on the chart.
3. Each morning, invite children to “check in” by selecting how they feel.
4. Use the chart as a discussion tool: “I see many friends are feeling excited today. Why do you think that might be?”
5. Revisit later in the day, allowing children to move their tags if their feelings change.

Age Range / Setting:
Perfect for preschool and early elementary classrooms, morning routines, or family discussions at home.

Tips for Educators/Parents:

• Normalize all feelings by emphasizing that no emotion is “bad.”
• Use the chart as a private check-in option if children are shy.
• Model the process by checking in with your own feelings as the teacher or parent.
• Encourage reflection at the end of the day to show how emotions can shift over time.

Activity 17: Music and Movement for Emotions

Overview:
Music and Movement for Emotions is an energetic SEL activity where children use their bodies to express different feelings through dance, gestures, and movement. By pairing emotions with music, children connect physical expression with emotional awareness, making learning joyful and memorable.

SEL Skills Developed:
This activity strengthens self-awareness and relationship skills. Students practice recognizing their own emotions, expressing them safely, and respecting the different ways others show feelings.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Play a piece of music with a clear emotional tone, such as happy, calm, energetic, or sad.
2. Ask children to move in a way that matches the music (e.g., jumping for excitement, slow steps for sadness).
3. Pause the music and ask: “What feeling did this music make you think of?”
4. Repeat with different songs, encouraging children to explore a range of emotions.
5. End with a group reflection on how movement can help release feelings and make them feel better.

Age Range / Setting:
Ideal for preschool and early elementary classrooms, gym time, or family play at home.

Tips for Educators/Parents:

• Choose age-appropriate music with clear moods.
• Encourage creativity, reminding children that there are no “wrong” movements.
• Use scarves, ribbons, or props to make the activity more engaging.
• Balance active songs with calming ones to help children practice emotional regulation.

Activity 18: Acts of Kindness Chart

Overview:
The Acts of Kindness Chart is a visual SEL activity that encourages children to notice, record, and celebrate kind behaviors. Each time a child helps a friend, shares, or uses kind words, the act is added to the chart. Over time, the chart fills with positive actions, reinforcing the value of kindness in daily life.

SEL Skills Developed:
This activity strengthens relationship skills and responsible decision-making. Students practice empathy, learn the impact of their actions on others, and are motivated to make caring choices.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Create a chart or poster titled “Our Acts of Kindness.”
2. Provide stickers, stars, or spaces where children can add their names or draw pictures each time they show kindness.
3. Encourage children to notice when their peers are kind and add those actions to the chart as well.
4. Review the chart at the end of the week, celebrating the group’s kindness together.
5. Discuss how these actions made both the giver and receiver feel.

Age Range / Setting:
Best for preschool and early elementary classrooms, but can also be adapted for families to encourage kindness at home.

Tips for Educators/Parents:

• Keep the focus on encouragement rather than competition.
• Highlight small acts of kindness as much as big ones.
• Use the chart as a springboard for discussions on empathy and caring.
• Refresh the chart regularly to keep children engaged.

Activity 19: Sharing and Turn-Taking Games

Overview:
Sharing and Turn-Taking Games are playful social and emotional learning activities that help young children practice patience, cooperation, and fairness. By engaging in games where they must wait for their turn or share resources, children learn the importance of respecting others and working together.

SEL Skills Developed:
This activity strengthens relationship skills and responsible decision-making. Students practice cooperation, fairness, and empathy while learning how to manage frustration and celebrate others’ successes.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Choose a simple group game that involves turn-taking, such as rolling a ball, building with blocks, or playing a board game.
2. Clearly explain the rules and emphasize the importance of waiting for turns.
3. Play the game as a group, reminding children to cheer for each other and be patient.
4. Encourage sharing when materials are limited, praising children who offer to let others go first.
5. Wrap up by asking: “How did it feel to wait for your turn?” e “How did it feel when someone shared with you?”

Age Range / Setting:
Perfect for preschool and early elementary classrooms, playgroups, or family game nights at home.

Tips for Educators/Parents:

• Start with very short turns to prevent frustration in younger children.
• Use visual cues, like a sand timer, so children can see how long they need to wait.
• Model taking turns yourself to reinforce the behavior.
• Praise positive sharing behaviors consistently to encourage repetition.

Activity 20: Feelings Art & Crafts (Drawing, Painting, Collage)

Overview:
Feelings Art & Crafts is a creative social and emotional learning activity where children use drawing, painting, or collage to express their emotions. Art gives children a safe outlet for feelings that may be difficult to put into words, while also encouraging imagination and self-expression.

SEL Skills Developed:
This activity strengthens self-awareness and self-management. Students learn to identify their emotions, express them in healthy ways, and reflect on how creativity can support emotional regulation.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Provide paper, crayons, markers, paints, or collage materials.
2. Give children a prompt such as “Draw what makes you happy” O “Paint what anger looks like.”
3. Allow time for quiet creative expression without rushing.
4. Invite children to share their artwork and explain their choices if they feel comfortable.
5. Display the artwork in the classroom or at home to celebrate emotional expression.

Age Range / Setting:
Ideal for preschool and early elementary classrooms, art centers, or at-home creative play.

Tips for Educators/Parents:

• Offer a variety of materials so children can choose how to express themselves.
• Avoid judging the art and instead focus on the feelings behind it.
• Encourage storytelling alongside artwork: “Tell me about your picture.”
• Use the activity regularly to help children build comfort with expressing emotions.

Building Strong Foundations Through SEL Activities

Early childhood is a crucial stage for laying the foundation of lifelong skills. The 20 social and emotional learning activities shared in this article are more than games or classroom routines. They are powerful tools that help children understand their feelings, connect with others, and make positive choices.

By practicing these activities consistently, children learn how to regulate emotions, develop empathy, strengthen friendships, and grow into confident learners. Whether in a classroom or at home, these simple strategies give young children the chance to practice social and emotional skills in meaningful ways.

When educators and parents work together to bring SEL into daily life, they create environments where children feel safe, valued, and ready to thrive. These small, intentional practices today can make a lasting difference in how children approach challenges, relationships, and their overall well-being in the future.