15 Social Emotional Learning Activities for Kids & Teens

Helping kids and teens develop emotional intelligence is one of the most valuable gifts we can give as parents, educators, and mentors. Emotional intelligence — the ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions — empowers young people to navigate relationships, handle stress, and make thoughtful decisions. 

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) activities are an engaging and effective way to nurture these skills in children and teens throughout elementary, middle, and high school. These 15 activities provide a range of opportunities for young people to build self-awareness, practice empathy, and strengthen emotional regulation.

What Is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to manage our own emotions while also being able to perceive and influence those of others. It is a critical skill for building healthy relationships, making thoughtful decisions, and navigating the challenges of daily life. 

Unlike traditional measures of intelligence like IQ, emotional intelligence focuses on how individuals handle feelings and social interactions. Daniel Goleman, a psychologist who popularized the concept, identifies five key components of emotional intelligence: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. 

• Self-awareness involves understanding one’s emotions and how they influence behavior.
  
  
• Self-regulation is the ability to manage emotional responses and impulses in a constructive way.
  
  
• Motivation refers to using emotions to achieve personal and collective goals.
  
  
• Empathy involves recognizing and understanding the feelings of others.
  
  
• Social skills encompass effective communication and the ability to build strong relationships.

Emotional intelligence isn’t innate; it’s a form of competency that can be developed and strengthened through practice and self-management in a supportive learning environment. For kids and teens, developing EI is especially important as it equips them to handle social dynamics, resolve conflicts, and cope with stress in a healthy way. 

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) activities like the ones listed below offer opportunities to build these skills in engaging and meaningful ways. By fostering emotional intelligence, we prepare young people to thrive personally, socially, and professionally, empowering them to lead balanced and empathetic lives.

Below are 15 social emotional learning activities that can support a teen’s emotional intelligence:

1. Emotion Charades

Emotion Charades is a playful activity that helps kids and teens learn to identify and express emotions while practicing social awareness. Write a variety of emotions, such as happy, sad, frustrated, excited, and nervous, on small pieces of paper. Have participants draw a card and act out the emotion while others try to guess it. 

This activity encourages young learners to think about how emotions are conveyed through facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice, helping them recognize and interpret emotional cues in others. By practicing emotional expression, kids and teens develop their ability to empathize and connect with others.

2. Feelings Journaling

Feelings Journaling gives kids and teens a space to reflect on their emotions and experiences. Encourage them to write about their daily feelings, focusing on situations that triggered specific emotions and why. You can suggest prompts like, “What made you feel proud today?” or “What’s one thing that worried you this week?” 

Journaling fosters self-awareness, a cornerstone of emotional intelligence, by helping young people identify patterns in their emotional responses. For those who prefer creativity, suggest drawing or using colors to represent their emotions, turning the journaling experience into a visual exploration of their inner world.

3. Role-Playing Scenarios

Role-playing provides a safe way for kids and teens to practice navigating social situations. Create scenarios such as, “Your friend forgot their homework and feels upset” or “You want to join a group activity but feel nervous.” Ask them to act out how they would handle the situation, focusing on empathy, active listening, and clear communication. 

This activity teaches problem-solving and perspective-taking, which are essential components of emotional intelligence. Practicing these scenarios builds their confidence and prepares them to handle real-life interactions with greater emotional awareness.

4. Gratitude Mapping

Gratitude mapping is a simple but powerful mindfulness activity that encourages kids and teens to focus on the positives in their lives. Give them a blank piece of paper and ask them to create a “map” of things they are grateful for, such as supportive friends, fun memories, or meaningful experiences. They can draw or write these items on their map, adding creative touches like colors or illustrations. 

Gratitude practices promote emotional well-being, optimism, and resilience. By reflecting on what they value, kids and teens strengthen their emotional intelligence and foster a sense of appreciation for their surroundings.

5. Emotion Word Wall

Building an extensive emotional vocabulary helps kids and teens articulate their feelings with greater precision, which can lead to better conflict resolution and building other relationship skills. 

Create an “emotion word wall” featuring words that describe a wide range of emotions, from simple ones like “happy” and “angry” to complex ones like “overwhelmed” or “content.” Display the word wall prominently and encourage them to use it to describe how they feel during discussions or journaling. 

Developing an emotional vocabulary enhances communication skills, which are critical for healthy relationships and self-expression.

6. Collaborative Problem Solving

Collaborative problem-solving with social-emotional activities teaches teamwork, communication, and compromise. Present a hypothetical problem, such as, “Your group has to design a bridge using only straws and tape.” Encourage participants to brainstorm solutions together, listening to each other’s ideas and making group decisions.

This activity emphasizes the value of cooperation and patience while helping kids and teens learn to manage disagreements constructively. Collaborative problem-solving fosters empathy and strengthens emotional intelligence by encouraging mutual understanding and shared success.

7. Mindfulness Breathing Exercises

Mindful breathing is a simple but effective way for kids and teens to regulate their emotions. Teach them techniques like box breathing, where they inhale for four counts, hold for four counts, exhale for four counts, and pause for four counts. Encourage them to practice these exercises whenever they feel overwhelmed or stressed. 

Mindful breathing enhances self-awareness and emotional regulation, key components of emotional intelligence. Incorporating this practice into daily routines helps young people handle challenges with greater calm and focus.

8. Empathy Discussions

Discussing empathy helps kids and teens understand and relate to others’ feelings. Share a story from a book, movie, or real-life experience and ask questions like, “How do you think this person felt?” or “What would you do if you were in their shoes?” 

These conversations encourage young people to consider different perspectives, fostering compassion and understanding. Over time, practicing empathy strengthens their ability to connect with others and navigate social dynamics with emotional intelligence.

9. Strengths and Challenges Chart

Creating a strengths and challenges chart encourages kids and teens to use their social-emotional skills to reflect on their unique abilities and areas for growth. Have them divide a sheet of paper into two columns, listing their strengths on one side (e.g., “I’m good at listening”) and challenges on the other (e.g., “I struggle with patience”). 

This activity builds self-awareness and promotes a growth mindset, helping them recognize their capabilities while viewing challenges as opportunities to improve. Understanding their strengths and areas for growth enhances their emotional intelligence and boosts their confidence.

10. Hero Journey Club: Building Emotional Skills Through Gaming

Hero Journey Club provides a unique way for kids and teens to develop emotional intelligence through therapist-led support groups within video games like Minecraft. 

In this virtual environment, participants engage in collaborative activities that promote teamwork, problem-solving, and emotional regulation. The gaming context allows young people to explore social interactions in a safe, familiar space, guided by mental health professionals who help them practice empathy, communication, and resilience. 

Hero Journey Club offers a modern, engaging approach to emotional learning, helping kids and teens build essential skills for real-life success.

11. “What Would You Do?” Scenarios

Presenting “What Would You Do?” scenarios helps kids and teens think critically about how to handle challenging situations. For example, ask, “What would you do if you saw someone left out at lunch?” or “How would you respond if a friend was upset with you?” 

These scenarios encourage young people to reflect on their choices, consider others’ perspectives, and develop strategies for resolving conflicts. By thinking through different situations, they strengthen their emotional intelligence and learn to respond thoughtfully to social challenges.

12. Emotion Check-In Circles

Emotion check-in circles provide a space for kids and teens to share their feelings in a supportive group setting. Because many kids and teens can be a bit bashful about what they’re feeling, it can be helpful to ground the conversation in events and then ask about feelings if they're comfortable. 

One common “game” is Rose, Bud, and Thorn:

• A Rose is something that has gone well. 
• A Bud is something they’re looking forward to. 
• A Thorn is something that has been difficult or that didn’t go well. 

Begin by asking each participant to name one of each type. If they don’t have one for each, that’s okay, get those they do have. Then you can ask follow-up questions about how they’re feeling about those events that seem especially important. 

This practice normalizes talking about emotions and helps participants build empathy as they listen to others. Creating a safe space for emotional expression fosters trust and strengthens emotional intelligence through shared understanding.

13. Kindness Challenges

Kindness challenges encourage kids and teens to practice empathy and compassion in their daily lives. Create a list of simple acts of kindness, such as helping a classmate, writing a thank-you note, or sharing a compliment. 

Challenge them to complete as many acts as possible over a week or month. Reflecting on how their actions made others feel—and how they felt in return—helps young people recognize the positive impact of empathy and generosity on relationships.

14. Visualizing Calm Spaces

Guided visualization can help kids and teens develop emotional regulation by creating a mental “safe space” to visit when they feel stressed. Guide them through imagining a peaceful environment, such as a beach, forest, or cozy room, and encourage them to focus on sensory details like sights, sounds, and smells. 

Visualization exercises teach young people to manage overwhelming emotions by redirecting their focus to calming imagery, a critical skill for enhancing emotional intelligence.

15. Collaborative Art Projects

Collaborative art projects combine creativity with teamwork, providing an opportunity for kids and teens to practice emotional skills. Have participants work together to create a mural, sculpture, or group collage. 

During the project, encourage them to communicate, compromise, and support one another’s ideas. Collaborative art fosters emotional intelligence by promoting cooperation, patience, and the ability to navigate group dynamics in a positive way.

Skills for Life With Hero Journey Club

Developing emotional intelligence is a lifelong process, and these activities provide fun, practical ways to support kids and teens on their journey. 

Whether through journaling, group discussions, or innovative platforms like Hero Journey Club, fostering emotional intelligence equips young people with the tools they need to thrive in relationships, overcome challenges, and grow into empathetic, self-aware individuals. By making SEL activities a regular part of their lives, you’re helping them build a foundation for emotional and social success.

Sources:

What is emotional intelligence and how does it apply to the workplace? | Mental Health America

Fundamentals of SEL | CASEL

What Self-Awareness Really Is (and How to Cultivate It) | HBR

The Arts as a Catalyst for Human Prosociality and Cooperation | PMC