Social Development Activities

The following activities can be used to help increase the social development of Pre-K students.

Confidence and positive self-awareness

Make an "I Can" can with your child. Cover a clean can with paper and decorate it. Each week, write a new skill on a strip of paper ("I can hop on one foot," I can feed the dog," etc.) and place it in the can.
Look through photos with your child often. Point out how she has grown and changed over time.

Allow for independent "time alone." Talk with your child after about what they did.
Give your child some choices throughout the day. "Should we get our the LEGOS or the play dough now?" "Would you like noodle soup or tomato soup for lunch?"

Remind you child that every place has its own rules. Practice being quiet in the library and waiting at the bank or store.
Take turns speaking or listening. During dinner let each person take a turn "in the spotlight" to share something about the day.

When reading, talk about how the book characters feel. Point our their facial expressions, actions, and words. Say "Show me how you look when your're disappointed," or "How do people look if they're excited?"
TALK to your child! Ask them questions about their day and encourage them to use complete sentences rather than single words or short phrases.
Remind your child to use their manners. Saying thank you, please, and excuse me will take them far!
Encourage table manners too! Discuss why they are important. (And encourage trying new foods too!)
HAVE fun! Show them how interested you are in their school work and how proud you are when they do their best.

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Give your child many opportunities to interact with other children of the same age outside the school setting. Encourage them to play together and to share and take turns with toys and games.
Teach your child to respect the property of other children and adults. Tell your child that it's not only important to respect the property of others, but also their personal space. Encourage your child to be aware of his or her personal space and the personal space of others, specially when you are in crowded places, such as elevators and shopping malls.
Explain to your child what it means to be a friend. Give your child many opportunities to interact with other children of his or her age outside of the school setting. Encourage positive behaviors that will help him or her make and keep friends, such as sharing and caring.
Encourage your child to take care of his or her things. For example, tell him or her to put away his or her blocks and other toys after he or she is finished playing with them. Talk with your child about why it's important to put away things, for example, so that people don't trip and fall or so you can easily find them the next time you want to use them.