Building Together: A Block Play Social Skills Activity



 

Objective:
To help children practice teamwork, communication, and kindness through guided block play.

🧰 Materials:

  • A variety of blocks (wooden, foam, or plastic)

  • Play figures, animals, or vehicles (optional)

  • “Let’s Build Together!” 

  • A timer 

🌟 Activity Steps:

1. Set the Stage:

Invite children to sit in a circle and ask:

“Have you ever built something amazing with blocks? What happens when we build together instead of alone?”

Talk briefly about:

  • Listening to others’ ideas

  • Taking turns placing blocks

  • Saying kind words like “Can I help?” or “Great idea!”

2. Team Building Challenge:

Split children into small groups (2–3 per set of blocks) and give them a simple, fun challenge:

Examples:

  • “Let’s build a house for a teddy bear.”

  • “Can your team build the tallest tower?”

  • “Make a zoo with spaces for all the animals.”

Give them 5–10 minutes to build, encouraging positive social behavior as they work.

3. Prompt Positive Play:

As they build, walk around and model language:

  • “I love how you asked if it was okay to add that block.”

  • “What could you say if you both want the same piece?”

Use gentle redirection:

“Let’s try working it out together what could we do?”

4. Share & Reflect:

Gather the children to walk around and view each team’s creation. Ask:

  • “How did you work together?”

  • “What made it easy or hard?”

  • “What would you do differently next time?”

🧠 Extension Idea:

Make a “Block Buddy Agreement” chart where children suggest rules for kind and fair block play. Post it near the block area!

💡 Why This Works:

  • Encourages cooperation, problem-solving, and respect

  • Promotes language development through meaningful peer interaction

  • Supports inclusive play for children with diverse learning needs


Stephanie Campbell
Early Childhood and Special Education Teacher & Author

#InclusiveEducation #PreschoolBooks #NeurodiversityInTheClassroom #EarlyChildhoodEducation #AutismAwareness #StorytimeForInclusion #StephanieCampbellBooks #SpecialEducationStrategies #PreschoolTeacherResources #SocialEmotionalLearning









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