must have social emotional games at school

As school social workers and counselors, we know the importance of creating engaging and therapeutic environments for our students. One of my favorite ways to engage with students and promote social emotional learning is using games! I am a very competitive person and there are so many learning opportunities that come with playing games. Games play a pivotal role in fostering social skills, teamwork, and emotional regulation. Whether you're planning a group activity or a one-on-one session, having a collection of versatile and fun games can make a significant difference.

Games foster collaboration, communication, and teamwork while helping students build strong relationships and develop empathy. They also provide opportunities for practicing patience, turn-taking, and handling winning or losing gracefully, which are essential for emotional regulation and resilience. They also encourage critical thinking and problem-solving in a fun and engaging way, enhancing both cognitive and social skills.

Here are some must-have games every school social worker or counselor should consider adding to their collection:

1. Totika Well-Balanced

Why It's Great: Totika Well-Balanced is a great tool for building emotional intelligence and self-awareness. Their are different decks of cards you can get with various topics that have thought-provoking questions and prompts. This is a great way to encourage meaningful conversations and reflection with students.

How to Play: Players take turns picking colored blocks and answering corresponding questions about emotions, values, and experiences. It's ideal for group sessions or individual counseling to promote self-expression and empathy.

2. Plunktika

Why It's Great: Plunktika combines strategy and skill while promoting cooperation and problem-solving. It's perfect for building teamwork and communication skills among students.

How to Play: Players use sticks to carefully remove colored pieces from a tower without causing it to collapse. It encourages patience, focus, and collaborative decision-making—a must-have for group therapy sessions or classroom activities.

I love having both of these games in my collection because I can use the cards for either game. This gives students a chance to have some control by deciding which game they play. Then I can pull out one of the card decks that focuses on whatever topic we are working on. It’s also a frequent go to for me during lunch bunch sessions. The ice breaker question deck is perfect for my first lunch bunch session so I can get to know my students better and they can get to know each other or make friends if they are new to the school.

3. Uno

Why It's Great: Uno is a classic card game that promotes social interaction, turn-taking, and strategic thinking. It's easy to learn and can be adapted for various age groups and settings.

How to Play: Players match cards by color or number, with special action cards adding excitement and unpredictability. Uno is perfect for quick icebreakers, small group activities, or even relaxation sessions. You can have students answer a question when they draw one particular colored card or have them answer questions about different topics based on each color card that is drawn. There are also many natural learning opportunities during this game as peers place down a skip card, or a card that requires more cards to be drawn. Students can learn to accept defeat or unexpected frustrations during the game and those skills can be applied to their daily situations.

4. Candyland

Why It's Great: Candyland is a colorful and imaginative board game that fosters creativity, patience, and following directions. It's ideal for younger students or those who enjoy storytelling and adventure.

How to Play: Players journey through a whimsical candy-themed world, drawing colored cards to move along the path. Candyland promotes turn-taking, good sportsmanship, and encourages imagination—a hit during individual or small group sessions. You can also have the different colored cards be used for talking about different topics. You can find my resource here that I used to promote discussion while playing Candyland.

5. Hedbanz

Why It's Great: Hedbanz is a hilarious guessing game that promotes critical thinking, deductive reasoning, and social skills. It's perfect for engaging students in lively and interactive gameplay.

How to Play: Players wear headbands with cards displaying objects or animals they can't see. Through questioning and deduction, they try to guess the card on their head. Hedbanz encourages communication, perspective-taking, and laughter—a favorite for group settings or team-building activities. My favorite way to use this though is to use different cards to address emotions, and more! Find my cheap and easy resource here.

6. Don't Break the Ice

Why It's Great: Don't Break the Ice is a classic dexterity game that promotes fine motor skills, patience, and strategy. It's simple yet engaging, making it suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities.

How to Play: Players take turns tapping out ice blocks with a mallet, trying not to let the polar bear fall through the ice. Don't Break the Ice encourages turn-taking, spatial awareness, and problem-solving—a versatile choice for individual counseling or small group sessions.

My first year as a school social worker, I had a third grade student who really struggled with anger and did not use any effective coping skills. I ended up taking a sharpie and putting a dot on several of the ice cubes on the game. I then typed of a few questions about coping skills and triggers for anger and when he hammered an ice cube with a dot, he had to draw one of the cards. As we played more, I noticed he started choosing the ice cubes with the dot because he wanted to talk about his triggers and brainstorm different coping skills.

Incorporating games into your toolkit as a school social worker or counselor can enhance engagement, facilitate therapeutic conversations, and promote essential social-emotional skills among students. Whether you're focusing on building empathy, improving communication, or fostering teamwork, these game must-haves—Totika Well-Balanced, Plunktika, Uno, Candyland, Hedbanz, and Don't Break the Ice—offer diverse opportunities for learning and growth in school settings. Get ready to have fun while making a positive impact on student well-being!