Social Skill Activities For Children?

Question

I have to do an activities box, for young kids. I wanted to have some activites to promote development of social skills, so things such as communication and team building skills. Does anyone know of a good website I can go to. I've hired a few books out, but theres nothing really substantial.

Also any activities for children with behavioural problems would be good.

Thanks for any help!

Answer 1

art is always good.. try discountschoolsupply.com they always have ideas

Answer 2

OK well here is what you can try, this activities will make them work together and make them use teamwork. One idea is you can get a deck of cards tell them that you are taking one card out(take a card out) shuffle the deck good and then drop it and let them all work together to find the missing card as quick as possible, give them hints like letting them know that assigning every person one set of cards to look for. It will be fun for them to try to get the lowest time, Tell them that some other class got a really low time so they will really work hard to try to find that card. Another one is a simple pass the ball game, here you will have them get in a circle, once that is done give them 1 object to throw, tell them that each person can only catch the ball one time, when the last person has the ball they pass it back to the person that started, Now get about 6-8 objects, they will now have to pass those objects in the same pattern that they just did, They can go as slow or as fast as they want just as long as the last person gives you all the objects.

Answer 3

I think the best way to teach social skills to all populations is to do so through teachable moments.  Children learn best through authentic activities, so taking time out of lessons when there is a conflict in order to help the children solve it then becomes the best lesson in social skills.  

As a parent or teacher, you can engineer the environment and activities to promote this type of learning.  For example, sit children who are having problems together and then stop everything and help them solve the issues that result.  You can also organize a game of duck duck goose, tag, etc on the playground.  These activities tend to result in conflict but have an enormous teaching potential.

In order to be successful in teaching social skills, you must teach the children not only what you do not want to see, but what you do want to see.  Instead of saying "Don't talk to her like that!" say, can you think of a better way to say that? and help them develop a nicer approach.  Talk about how the words we choose and the way we say them both matter and role play lots of examples.

There are social skills curricula out there that have achieved good results.  The locus of most of these programs is role playing in order to practice good communication and problem solving skills.  However, since these situations are contrived, children are not learning to use these skills while they are emotionally involved and the behaviors may not be easily generalized to personal situations.

Answer 4

Children just being with other children in general- are being socialized by sheer experience. In working with children our goal should be to promote and enhance those skills.



Some ways we can do this is by starting with ourselves and modeling good behavior. Children remember more of what we do than what we say. (Smile, be kind, say please and thank-you, pay attention, listen, don’t gossip, etc.) Children also model their behavior after people they respect. Let them know that you feel good about yourself. Also let them know that you make mistakes and learn from them. "Oops! look at what I just did!" --then laugh at yourself!

  

Catch the child being good! Give positive attention when the behavior is appropriate. Example: “It was so helpful when you picked up all the blocks!” Or, “I saw you helping Logan with his puzzle. That was really nice.”

In the room provide activities where children can have a choice of both large group and small group:

Provide games, a good dramatic play area, block area, sand-water table- and centers where children will not only parallel-play but also interact. Give the children responsibility and jobs. Give them time with their friends; just being with the children will promote those skills.

Read and then discuss “message  books”. Use puppets in getting across a message.



One of the best tools is to use 1-2-3 Then Ask me! (High Scope) With using this method- you eventually will have children helping children---and building altruism.

This will not only free up your time but will also build “community” in your room. If Tommy can’t tie his shoe and he comes to you---question to see if he asked three of his friends to help. If no—say, “Tommy needs help in tying his shoe…can someone help?” This will NOT embarrass the child as it will be part of routine) and he’ll learn from his friend. Tommy will then RETURN HELP to others as needed. For this to work it needs to be consistent. (Post a rebus sign with the 1-2-3 as a reminder)

You can also play the spider-web yarn circle.  The children sit in a circle and loop both their hands around the yarn and then roll the ball of yarn to another child. As the ball goes to each child they will say whatever the question of that “game-time” is: Their name, favorite game, toy, what makes them happy, etc. As the ball yarn goes across the circle, it becomes a web.

In their play be observant and consistent in guiding behavior. If a child is hurting another child address it immediately…”Tommy it hurts Sarah when you hit her arm.

You’re angry, that’s O.K. but it’s not O.K. to hit.”

Post rebus color rules. Have three or four rules -- on a different color paper. Example: The Blue Rule is-- We listen to the teacher and each other. (you could have a picture of  a child with his/her  finger in front of the mouth and a  shhhhhhhhh... Before circle time--remind and refer to the rule by saying, What is the Blue Rule?

Make children feel lovable and competent:

Listen to them-Look them in the eyes when you talk to them-Go down to their level when you talk to them-Use their ideas-Don’t change or improve their projects-Notice the positive in them-give them individual attention-Use their name; greet them daily-Present activities within their skill range-Have reasonable expectations.

As far as children with with inappropriate group behavior---Try re-directing the child’s activity, or move the child away from the group. Teach the children to express themselves verbally. Example: When a young child pushes another for taking a toy, encourage the child to say, “I don’t like it when you take my toy. I don’t feel like sharing it now.” When a child takes, teach him to ask permission first.

Most of all--radiate peace and calmness and not get caught in the chaos of the moment. :-)

Barbara Shelby

Answer 5

well, for one, let the kids develope on their own, dont force them to play if they dont wanna....but teach manners...manners are more important than "team building" i'd much rather be on my own, and choose when to depend on another person, rather than not knowing how to be ME from a young age on.....