Five Social-Emotional Learning Activities You Can Do With Your Toddler

As a parent or caretaker, you play an essential role in your child’s social-emotional development. By engaging in fun and interactive activities with your toddler, you can help them develop the skills they need to navigate the world around them. Here are five fun social-emotional learning activities that you can do with your toddler:

1. Play “Emotions Bingo”

Create a bingo board with emotions (happy, sad, angry, surprised, etc.) and pictures or drawings corresponding to each emotion. Take turns calling out emotions and having your child find the corresponding image or drawing on the bingo board. This game will help your child learn to recognize and express different emotions.

2. Read Books About Emotions

Reading books with your toddler is a great way to help them develop social-emotional skills. Look for books that explore different emotions and help your child identify and express their feelings. Some great options include “The Feelings Book” by Todd Parr, “When Sophie Gets Angry-Really, Really Angry” by Molly Bang, and “The Color Monster” by Anna Llenas.

3. Role-Play Different Scenarios

Role-playing different scenarios can help your child learn how to navigate various social situations. For example, you could pretend to be a store clerk and have your child practice saying “please” and “thank you” when making a purchase. Or, you could pretend to be an upset friend and have your child practice comforting you. This activity will help your child develop empathy and social awareness.

4. Create a Feelings Chart

Create a chart with different emotions (happy, sad, angry, etc.) and have your child draw a picture or write a sentence about how they feel each day. This will help your child learn to recognize and express their own emotions and develop their vocabulary around different feelings.

5. Play “Emotion Charades”

This game is similar to traditional charades but with an emotional twist. Take turns acting out emotions (happy, sad, angry, etc.), and have your child guess which emotion you are portraying. Then, switch roles and have your child act out different feelings for you to guess. This activity will help your child develop empathy, social awareness, and the ability to read nonverbal cues.

In conclusion, social-emotional learning activities are essential to your child’s development. By engaging in fun and interactive activities with your toddler, you can help them develop the skills they need to navigate the world around them. Whether playing “Emotions Bingo” or creating a feelings chart, these activities will help your child learn to recognize and express different emotions, develop empathy, and build social awareness.