Family time is crucial for nurturing a child’s social skills and emotional development. Playing games together creates opportunities for children to learn communication, cooperation, and build problem-solving skills in a supportive environment. Through play, children practice taking turns, following rules, and expressing themselves, which are essential components of social interaction. Engaging in these activities strengthens family bonds and builds a foundation of trust and understanding. By prioritizing playtime, parents can foster a sense of belonging and confidence in their children, equipping them with the skills needed to navigate social situations effectively.
As a School Psychologist and mother of three, I try my best to limit the technology in my home and play games with my children. My children are like all kids in that they are always trying to be on technology, include TV, computers, or the Nintendo Switch. I’ve found over the years, however, that although my kids will complain at first, after a few minutes they are fine once they figure out how to entertain themselves.
If using the “no technology time” to play an actual game together, I am using our time together to have fun as a family, while building important social and cognitive skills, not just five individuals living under the same roof being entertained by strangers.
Here are 10 fun and easy games to play with your kids that can help build Social Skills and improve your family connection.
1) Card Games or UNO
Cards are probably my number-one go-to for games to play as a family. Playing cards, or even UNO, are great because they are small and have such diversity in games. If getting bored with the same basic card games, a new or novel game is just a Google search away.
Depending on the age of your children, there are many types of games that you can play with your child or children. If younger, Go-fish, “high-low, red-black”, and War are pretty easy, even as young as age 5 Cards can help your children understand patterns, learn numbers, and work on addition and subtraction, all while having fun playing a game!
For older children (ages 6+), I would recommend a game that our family calls “7 or under.” It’s actually called “Shithead” if you want to look it up (Click Here). This game can take about 10 minutes, is fun and easy, but requires some strategy. We make it extra fun by having anyone who puts a “7 or Under” card down use an Australian accent to say it. As an American who love Australian accents, its pretty fun to try.
In addition, card games work on social skills, such as turn taking, compromise, and sportsmanship. Do you think that I let my 6 year old win all of the time? Heck NO! It’s good for him to practice losing. That way, he will be able to more easily demonstrate good sportsmanship when playing games with peers. No one likes a sore loser.
If your child likes card games and needs to work on social skills or sportsmanship, here are some specific games and a social story coloring book for Sportsmanship that I use in counseling students. Parents can definitely use these tools with their children at home as well. Everything is printable, and under $5 in the Counseling Fanny Pack of Fun store.
2) Board Games: Candyland, Monopoly Jr., Sorry, or Scrabble
Board games are the traditional and classic way to have some family fun. Games like “Candy Land” or “Chutes and Ladders” teach turn-taking, rule-following, and sportsmanship. They also offer opportunities for strategic thinking and problem-solving. My kids really like Monopoly Jr. I think it’s the making money part of the game, even though there’s a lot less strategy than regular Monopoly. My son’s current favorite boardgame is a Minecraft board game. So there’s something for everyone when it comes to boardgames.
If you have older children, you can play boardgames that require more strategy, such as Sequenced, Yahtzee, Chess, or Clue. In my experience with my own three children, playing boardgames together is one of the rare times that my kids are not arguing or debating with each other or my husband and I. We’re just having fun together.
If you are looking to spice up your Candyland with a topic or theme that your child would benefit from, check out these Candyland games from the Counseling Fanny Pack of Fun Store!
3) JENGA
Playing Jenga with your children offers numerous benefits for their development. It enhances fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination as kids carefully remove and stack blocks. The game also fosters patience and strategic thinking, as players plan their moves to prevent the tower from falling. Additionally, Jenga encourages social interaction and communication, as children discuss tactics and celebrate each other’s successes. This engaging activity promotes focus and concentration, providing a fun way for families to bond while developing essential skills.
4) Simon Says
This classic game helps children improve listening skills and follow directions. By taking turns as “Simon,” kids also learn leadership and the importance of clear communication. Playing Simon Says with your children offers valuable benefits for their development. This game enhances listening skills and teaches the importance of following instructions carefully. It encourages self-control and quick thinking, as children must differentiate between commands to respond correctly.
Additionally, Simon Says promotes body awareness and coordination, helping kids improve their motor skills. By taking turns leading the game, children also practice leadership and clear communication. Overall, Simon Says is a fun and interactive way to build essential social and cognitive skills.
5) Hangman
Playing Hangman with children is a fun and engaging way for parents to spend quality time together while boosting vocabulary and spelling skills. This simple game encourages critical thinking and problem-solving as kids guess letters to form words.
Beyond the home, Hangman can be played almost anywhere—during car rides, at the park, or even while waiting for appointments. All you need is a piece of paper and a pen, or you can use digital versions on tablets or phones. It’s a versatile game that turns downtime into an enjoyable learning experience. There’s even a metal magnetic hangman or this dry-erase one that can be played when traveling.
6) Memory and Matching Games
Playing memory games with your children offers several benefits for their cognitive development. These games enhance concentration and attention to detail as kids focus on remembering the positions of cards or images. They also boost short-term memory and improve problem-solving skills by encouraging children to develop strategies for recalling information. Additionally, memory games support visual recognition and can strengthen language skills when discussing matches. This enjoyable activity fosters patience and perseverance, providing a fun and interactive way for families to connect while building essential mental skills.
7) Outdoor Games…Cornhole, Disc Golf, Mini-Golf
Outdoor games like cornhole, mini-golf, and bocce ball offer a range of benefits for children. These activities promote physical health by encouraging movement and coordination. Playing outside also boosts mental well-being, providing fresh air and a break from screens. Socially, these games enhance teamwork and communication skills as children learn to take turns and strategize. They also foster resilience and sportsmanship, teaching kids to handle wins and losses gracefully. Most importantly, outdoor games create opportunities for family bonding and fun, strengthening relationships through shared experiences.
8) Car-Ride Games (I spy, 10 guesses, License plate game)
Car ride games offer fantastic benefits for children’s development. They encourage creativity and enhance communication skills through activities like “I Spy” or storytelling. These games also boost cognitive abilities, such as memory and attention, while promoting quick thinking and problem-solving. Playing together strengthens family bonds and makes travel time enjoyable. Additionally, car ride games reduce screen time and provide opportunities for learning about the world through observation and conversation.
9) Cooperative Building Games or Puzzles
Doing puzzles or cooperative building games with your children offers numerous benefits. These activities enhance problem-solving skills and spatial awareness as kids figure out how pieces fit together. For example, building a Lego set or completing a jigsaw puzzle encourages patience and perseverance. Working together on projects fosters teamwork and communication, as children discuss strategies and share ideas. These games also boost creativity and imagination, providing a sense of accomplishment when tasks are completed. Such collaborative efforts strengthen family bonds and create lasting memories.
10) Non-Gameboard Games “Boardgames”
Playing non-board games like Connect Four, Twister, and Don’t Break the Ice with your children can be incredibly fun and rewarding. These games offer a lively break from routine and encourage laughter and bonding. Connect Four sharpens strategic thinking, while Twister adds a physical element, promoting coordination and flexibility. Don’t Break the Ice provides excitement as kids carefully tap away pieces, enhancing fine motor skills. These activities create joyful memories, strengthen family connections, and provide opportunities for playful learning and communication.
For parents of children with autism or social skills deficits…
Practicing social skills at home is essential for reinforcing what children learn in therapy or school. Home is a safe and familiar environment where children can comfortably explore and develop these skills. Regular practice helps them generalize behaviors to other settings, increasing their confidence in social interactions. By integrating social skills practice into daily routines, parents can create consistent opportunities for learning, making social development a natural part of everyday life.
Using tools like games, social stories, and videos can greatly enhance this learning process. Games provide a fun and engaging way to practice turn-taking, sharing, and communication. Social stories offer visual and narrative frameworks that help children understand social cues and appropriate responses. Videos can demonstrate real-life scenarios, providing concrete examples of social interactions. These tools cater to different learning styles and help maintain a child’s interest and motivation, making social skills practice both effective and enjoyable.
Here are some more Social Stories and Games that you can play at home to help improve your child’s Social Skills, including showing others’ kindness, empathy, playground skills, and resolving conflicts.
