Kids activities to build social and emotional skills - for preschoolers aged 2-6 years
Social and emotional development in the early years lays the foundation for your child’s mental health and relationships for life. This collection is filled with fun, gentle, and intentional activities to help preschoolers build emotional skills, improve listening and comprehension, and develop the ability to express big feelings in safe ways.
These ideas are easy to set up, free to access, and require zero special materials – so you can support your child’s emotional regulation, self-awareness, and coping skills even during busy weeks or weekend downtime.
Why these activities work?
💬 Encourage healthy emotional expression and conversation
🧘♀️ Support early mindfulness and mental wellness
🧠 Boost listening and comprehension through roleplay and stories
❤️ Promote confidence and self-esteem through positive reflection
🔁 Easy to repeat and adjust for different moods or moments
Pro tips for parents - Kids activities for building social and emotional skills
Model feelings out loud (“I feel proud when we clean up together!”) – kids learn by watching.
Use pretend play to practice sharing, turn-taking, and empathy in a safe space.
Keep it playful – emotional growth doesn’t need to be heavy or lecture-y.
Revisit these often. Emotional skills build slowly, through repetition and trust.
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More ideas to support your Screen-Free journey
Loved this activity? Explore our thoughtful guides for raising curious, independent kids:
Why we created Screen Free Kids?
We’re parents, just like you – trying to raise curious, creative kids in a world full of screens. Screen Free Kids started as a personal project to rediscover simple, joyful ways to play, learn, and connect. Now, we share those ideas with thousands of families – through thoughtful activities, parenting guides, and a book full of inspiration. More about us.
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