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Excellent social skills make your child’s future brighter and better. And you can help hone these valuable skills and start teachable moments with these social skills board games.
I found 16 social skills board games that you can use at home, school, or even in therapy. They are mostly roll-and-move games, easy to set up and play with children. Four games are sets that focus on several social skills, while others focus on specific skills like:
- Respect
- Empathy
- Emotions
Social Skills Board Games Comparison Table
| Game | Age | Players | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Social Skills Games | 5+ | 1+ | $$$ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Social Skills | 6+ | 1+ | $$$ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Social Safari | 9+ | 2-8 | $$ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| You & Me | 4+ | 2-6 | $$$$ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Social City | 5+ | 2-5 | $$$ | ★★★☆☆ |
| The Social Conflict Game | 8+ | 1+ | $$$$ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Look Who’s Listening! | 5+ | 2-6 | $$$$ | ★★★★☆ |
| Out of Your Mind | 12+ | 2‑6 | $$$$ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Expressionary | 12+ | 4-12 | $$$$ | ★★★★☆ |
| Time 2 Talk | 10+ | 2-4 | $$$ | ★★★☆☆ |
| 6 Conflict & Resolution Games | 6+ | 1+ | $$$ | ★★★★☆ |
| What Do You Say…What Do You Do…At School? | 5+ | 2‑6 | $$$ | ★★★★☆ |
| My Feelings | 4+ | 2‑4 | $$$ | ★★★☆☆ |
| What Should You Do? | 5+ | 2‑4 | $$ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Grab & Play Social-Emotional Games | 7+ | 1+ | $$$$ | ★★★★☆ |
| Anger Slayer | 5+ | 2-4 | $$$ | ★★★★☆ |
Social Skills Board Game
6 Social Skills Games (Junior Learning)
★★★☆☆
For Families and Schools | Age 5+ | 1+ players | Price $$$ | Duration 10-20 min
Junior Learning’s 6 Social Skills Games
includes 2 board games, 2 matching games, scenario puzzles for six different games:
- Missing Emotions
- Rotten Apples
- Empathy Glasses
- Social Scenario Puzzles
- Right or Wrong
- Lemon Aid
This set has matching, roll-and-move, and sorting games, so it has a great replayability. It can also be used in small classrooms as several game pieces and boards are in the set. I like these games because they are easy to use and set up. Some are also self-correcting, so children can play with minimal to no adult supervision. I also like that it teaches your child how to:
- Identify emotions
- Deal with challenging social scenarios
- Differentiate right from wrong
However, there is so much reading involved. So it is best played with children who are already fluent readers to maximize enjoyment and learning and minimize frustration.
Social Skills (Didax)
★★★☆☆
For Families and Schools | Age 5+ | 1+ players | Price $$$ | Duration 10-20 min
Social Skills is another set of six board games targeting these essential topics – good manners, emotions, empathy, friendship, and morals. The games in this set are:
- How others feel
- Acting out
- Manners
- Mountain of emotions
- What should you do?
- What makes a good friend?
These are all roll-and-move games, so they are easy to play at home and in small groups in schools. The games also feature relatable activities and scenarios appropriate for elementary children.
I recommend this set because 24 players can play with it simultaneously. It is also easy to use, so young children can focus on enjoying the games while learning. However, it is only three stars because there is a lot of reading involved. So, adult supervision is necessary when playing with struggling readers. Also, the gameplay has no variety, so your child at home may quickly get tired of this set.
Social Safari (Marco Safari)
★★☆☆☆
For Families | Age 9+ | 2-8 players | Price $$ | Duration 10-20 min
If you are looking for a game for older students, Social Safari is good for teaching important social skills. This game tackles:
- Self-esteem
- Feelings
- Behavioral skills
- Classroom skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Getting along with others
It is a simple roll and move board game where the player draws cards, depending on what square they land on, and responds to their tasks.
This is a two-star game because it requires initial prep work – you have to cut the game cards before playing – and it is printed on medium-weight paper only. It is not very durable, so it is more suitable for homes. It also has a very lackluster color and design.
You & Me (Childswork Childsplay)
★★★☆☆
For Families | Age 4+ | 2-6 players | Price $$$$ | Duration 10-20 min
You & Me is a cooperative roll-and-move game for younger children. It features situations that they encounter in their everyday life like:
- Helping
- Being polite
- Sharing
- Cooperating
- Listening and following
- Being a friend
It is quick to set up and play. Players work as a team. First, they roll the die and move it to the corresponding square. Then, they pick a card, either drawing, cooperating, or acting, and perform the action indicated.
I like this game because it teaches the players about working in teams. It also introduces the value of cooperation as all players will win or lose, depending on how they played. It also features over a hundred game cards, so it has high replayability.
However, it is a costly game compared to the other games on this list.
Social City (Super Duper Publications)
★★★☆☆
For Families and Schools | Age 5+ | 2-5 players | Price $$$ | Duration 10-20 min
Does your child need help with understanding and dealing with their problems? Social City is a board game that teaches your child how to identify the magnitude of a problem and deal with it. It accompanies the two books: Bumps, Hills, and Mountains: A Book About Identifying the Size of a Problem and The Problem-Reaction Meter: Choosing the Size of Your Reactions.
It is a roll-and-move game. Players draw the cards, read the problems and reactions, and then gauge how big those are. I like this game because:
- It features relatable situations and reactions
- It is easy to play
- It has 200 scenario cards, so it has high replayability
I’m giving this a three-star rating because it has a very dull design. It may not easily attract younger children even though it is for them. There is also some reading required, so adult supervision is necessary for struggling or non-readers.
The Social Conflict Game (Creative Therapy)
★★★☆☆
For Families and Schools | Age 8+ | 1+ players | Price $$$$ | Duration 10-20 min
Some children have difficulty dealing with confrontations and problems with other people. And The Social Conflict Game directly addresses this issue. This teaches children these seven skills:
- Recognizing the source of conflict
- Assuming responsibility for the conflict
- Understanding the other person’s point of view
- Challenging beliefs that justify their aggressive behavior/emotions
- Foreshadowing consequences
- Being assertive, not aggressive
- Practicing problem-solving skills
I like this game because it includes over 200 relatable situations, so it has high replayability. It also challenges the players to think about specific scenarios differently, so they can react more positively or healthily. However, some situations are more suitable for older children, so it may be best to sort through the cards before using them in your classroom or with your kids.
Look Who’s Listening (Super Duper Publications)
★★★★☆
For Families, Schools, and Therapy | Age 5+ | 2-6 players | Price $$$$ | Duration 10-20 min
Look Who’s Listening features ten deck cards for different auditory skills. The topics include:
- Minimal pairs
- Word parts
- Sound in words
- Numbers
- Words
- Sentences
- Facts/details in a paragraph
- Interpretations of directions
- Listening for keywords
- Following multi-level commands
The game’s goal is to test and develop a person’s listening skills. And learning to pay attention and listen to someone is an important social skill to learn starting from a very young age.
I like this game because there are several decks of cards to accommodate a wide range of age groups, so it is excellent for therapy, homes, and schools. There are also over 200 cards in this set which is great for replayability. Furthermore, you can tailor the game for your child by choosing the difficulty level on each card for them.
The only catch is the game is a bit expensive. But I think it is worth it since this game can be used for children of almost all ages.
Out of Your Mind (Franklin Learning Systems)
★★★☆☆
For Families and Schools | Age 12+ | 2-6 players | Price $$$$ | Duration 10-20 min
You can try Out of Your Mind for older students and even adults,. This non-competitive game helps players practice their communication and listening skills as they have fun. It has four card decks with different sets of activities. These are:
- Imagine That – lets you visualize yourself dealing with different social situations
- Picture This – lets you use images to express yourself
- Voice a Choice – features multiple-choice questions that let you share something about yourself
- Remember When – lets you dive into the past to recall a memory
I like this game because this makes you process your thoughts and emotions and put them in words. It also develops empathy and decision-making skills. However, it has very dull colors and designs. It is also a bit expensive.
Expressionary (Childswork Childsplay)
★★★★☆
For Families, Schools, and Therapy | Age 12+ | 4-12 players | Price $$$$ | Duration 10-20 min
Teenagers are going through many emotions, and they need to learn how to express them. Expressionary is a great board game to let them do it with words, movement, and even pictures. It comes with 40 feelings cards and 40 situations cards.
I like this game because it makes expressing emotions fun and engaging. During play, other players will need to guess the other player’s expressions. They earn tokens for every correct answer, and the person with the most tokens wins the game.
This game can be made better if more situation or feeling cards are added to the set, especially since this is quite an expensive board game.
Time2Talk (Author: DaRae Morris, LMSW)
★★★☆☆
For Families and Therapy | Age 10+ | 2-4 players | Price $$$ | Duration 20-40 mins
Learn how to communicate healthily with Time2Talk – a board game designed by DaRae Morris, a licensed social worker for children. It is a great ice breaker game to encourage your child to talk about commonly difficult topics.
This roll-and-move board game aims to make communicating more fun and accessible, even for those who have difficulty doing it. It lets your child become more comfortable speaking up and speaking for themselves.
I recommend this game because it allows players to learn more about others in an enjoyable and safe space. It also lets them get to know themselves better, making it easier to express themselves and their emotions.
6 Conflict & Resolution Games (Junior Learning)
★★★★☆
For Families, Schools and Therapy | Age 6+ | 1+ players | Price $$$ | Duration 10-20 mins
Resolving conflict and being responsible for one’s actions are some of the necessary skills to develop early in your child’s life. And Junior Learning’s 6 Conflict & Resolution Games will help them with these skills. This set comes with these games:
- Persuasion Pot
- A Spinning Solution
- Compromise Burgers
- Are You A Bully?
- Sharks, Jellyfish, and Turtles
Three of the games are roll-and-move types, so it is easy to set up and use with children. They can also be played with others or independently.
I recommend this game because you really get much for a cheap price. The boards are also sturdy, and the illustrations are engaging for younger children. The only catch is there are only five games, not six, which is not much of a problem because the Keep Calm Meter is a great tool. It is a great visual tool for children to explain their feelings.
What Do You Say…What Do You Do…At School? (Super Duper Publications)
★★★★☆
For Families and Schools | Age 5+ | 2-6 players | Price $$$ | Duration 10-20 mins
Going to school can be scary and intimidating for young children. But you can help them get ready for it with What Do You Say…What Do You Do…At School?
This board game aims to develop the necessary social skills that your kids should have when they first go to school. And it uses common scenarios that they may experience in these six topic areas:
- Around the school
- School offices
- Lunchroom
- Playground
- Classrooms
- Arts-related rooms
It comes with 390 scenario cards subdivided into six topic areas. It is a roll-and-move game that requires adult supervision for younger kids because the situation cards have to be read to them.
I like this board game because it is very vibrant to look at, so it can quickly grab a child’s attention. It also covers a lot of familiar rooms that they will encounter in schools. However, not all situation cards are standard experiences for all students. So, you may have to sort through them before using them with your children, or you can also customize the set by making your own scenario cards.
My Feelings (Sensational Learners)
★★★☆☆
For Families and Therapy | Age 4+ | 2-4 players | Price $$$ | Duration 10-20 mins
Help your child understand, recognize, and express their emotions in socially-acceptable ways with My Feelings – a board game designed by leading speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists. The goal of this game is your young one’s socio-emotional development.
This board game tackles these seven emotions:
- Excited
- Angry
- Happy
- Sad
- Frustrated
- Scared
- Tired
And it has 280 scenarios that let them explore these emotions in a safe and fun space. It also comes with 260 strategies that they can use to manage and express their feelings in a socially acceptable way.
I like this game because it has good illustrations. It is also easy to use since it’s a roll and move, and children only have to answer some exploratory questions. However, I’m giving it three stars only because the face of angry and frustrated may be confusing for kids. It is also hard to set up because there are a lot of cards to sort through every time you play.
What Should You Do? (Lakeshore Learning)
★★★☆☆
For Families and Therapy | Age 5+ | 2-4 players | Price $$ | Duration 10-20 mins
Lakeshore Learning’s What Should You Do? is a fun board game that teaches children about taking responsibility for their actions and decisions.
Every action has a corresponding consequence, which will let the player win or lose in this board game. In addition, this set comes with an answer key that tells which decisions are good and which will set them back.
I like that this also teaches them patience because of possible setbacks. I also recommend this because:
- It has a very vibrant and illustrative background
- It has easy multiple-choice questions for the scenarios
- It also deals with sensitive situations that your child may encounter in their everyday life, like bullying and honesty
However, this game has low replayability because it has only a few question and behavior cards.
Grab & Play Social-Emotional Games (Lakeshore Learning)
★★★★☆
For Families and Schools | Age 5+ | 2-6 players | Price $$$ | Duration 10-20 mins
Grab & Play Social-Emotional Games includes a set of three board games, namely:
To play, roll the dice, move, and draw a card. They collect chips for every explanation or action that they show. And the first to get 20 wins. Each board game can be used by up to 4 players.
These games are available individually, but I highly recommend getting them as a set because they all teach essential social skills. They are also easy to play because they are roll and move games. They also encourage the players to discuss and explore their emotions and actions through words and role-playing. Finally, I like that they are also very vibrant and interesting.
Anger Slayer (Toiing)
★★★★☆
For Families, Schools, and Therapy | Age 5+ | 2-4 players | Price $$$ | Duration 10-20 mins
Improve your child’s emotional and social skills with Anger Slayer. This features a hero-themed board that teaches your child how to deal with anger.
It is easy to play because it’s a simple spin-and-move game. Players use the spinner to get a color that dictates the next square they will move onto. Then, they have to pick the corresponding color card and do the action to move on. These action cards can be:
- Yoga poses
- Creative activities
- Physical activities
- Breathing
- Social Activities
I like that this board game is designed to help your child calm down when they are actually angry or in distress. It also comes with several extra items:
- Anger thermometer – shows how mad a person is
- Anger roots – list some possible sources of anger that a person may have
- Anger road map – lets you show how your anger makes you feel
It also includes different categories for calming skills, so you’ll have plenty to try out when your child is mad or frustrated. And it makes learning about these techniques fun for your child.
Other Socio-Emotional Learning Board Games
Teaching social skills to young children helps them have better successes and stronger relationships as they grow up. It is also believed to yield better educational and career futures. And the thing is, it is not something we are born with. It is something honed and taught. So, incorporating these necessary skills in fun games make your child more interested and engaged in learning them.
If you want more socio-emotional board games, like the ones listed in this post, check out these other resources:
- Conflict Resolution Games for Preschoolers and Kindergarten
- 10 NVC (Non-violent Communication) Card and Board Games
- 25 Anger Management Board Games for Schools and Families
- 10 Empathy Board Games for Schools, Families, and Organizations
- 7 Conflict Resolution Board Games For 7 to 17 Year-Olds
- 30+ Board & Card Games About Emotions for Preschoolers and Kindergarten
- 9 Feelings and Emotions Board Games for Primary School and Home
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