Social skills are a key element to any Autism and/or Special Education program. In the world of special education, games are more than just a source of entertainment. They can be powerful tools for learning and development, especially for students on the autism spectrum.
Social skills games, in particular, can provide a safe and enjoyable environment for students to practice their social interactions. This can include conversation skills, turn taking, sharing, and sportsmanship.
Often students don’t even realize they are learning while engaged in game play, allowing parents and teachers to guide students through various social skills scenarios and skills.
Here we will explore 5 of the best social skills games for social emotional learning, social skills, and cooperative play.
These games not only make learning fun but also help in fostering communication, empathy, self control, and understanding. All of which are aspects of social skills learning that are crucial for personal and social growth.
There are several games that I consistently use since they are so engaging for students in social skills programs.
I have compiled a list of my 5 favourite social skills games (in random order), along with some ideas of social emotional skills that can be addressed using these games, so that you can get started with your own social skills groups.
1. Hedbanz
One of the things I work on the most when running social skills groups is conversation skills. The ability to enter, maintain, and exit a conversation is a challenge for autistic students, especially when talking about things that are not a preferred topic or of interest.
Headbandz (by Spin Master Games) is an excellent way to help students learn the back and forth nature of conversations. It requires players to have a picture on their head that they can’t see, and ask questions from the other game players to determine what their picture is (using a “who am I” format).
Often I will create a list of question ideas as a way to prompt students as they are learning how to play the game.
Students are always very engaged with this game and I have seen significant increases in the number of conversational turns students are taking as they work through the game.
As you can see in the image above, the game has things like animals, fruits, and various objects on the cards, and the images are colourful and engaging.
This is definitely one of my favourites for groups of 4 to 6 students to engage in social skills game play.
2. Pop the Pig
When I am working on social skills with students who are minimally verbal or non verbal, I often work on turn taking, counting, and some communication skills.
Students who use an AAC device can indicate “your turn” when they have finished their turn. They can also work on sharing and waiting for their turn, which can be a struggle for all students.
Pop the pig is a very simple game (by Goliath) where students take turns rolling the dice, which will land on one of four colours. Each colour corresponds to plastic burger shaped pieces of the same colour with a small number on the back. This burger is then placed in the pig’s mouth and the student presses the chef hat of the pig the same number of times as was on the game piece.
An added bonus is the counting practice for those students working on basic numeracy skills.
The goal of the game is to not “pop” the pig, which is when the belt around the waist of the pig pops open. Students who enjoy cause and effect will also really enjoy this game.
I have used it with as little as 2 students and as many as 4-5.
3. Uno
Card games are an excellent way to engage students who are working on conversation skills, turn taking, and good sportsmanship. This game is engaging because it has some strategy where students can make other players have to pick up cards.
The benefit here is that the outcome is usually random based on the cards the player gets so there is some skill involved, but not enough for any player to be unable to win.
This game also allows you to focus on conversation volleys as students can indicate to each other that their turn is next, discuss the game play as they go, and talk to other players about the next play.
Once the rules of the game are understood (which really only takes one or two teaching rounds) players are off and running with the game.
This game is also great for practicing good sportsmanship since rounds are usually pretty quick and players might lose and become frustrated, but will be likely to win another round within a short amount of time.
This also allows you to encourage students to focus on being a good winner and a good loser within the same social skills session.
4. Trouble
This classic game is also a great one for students working on conversation skills, sportsmanship, and turn taking. There is really a very random outcome and minimal strategy involved and students will pick up the rules quickly.
Players must pop the dice in the middle of the board (good for cause and effect as well as not losing the dice!!) and move their piece around the board.
They have 4 pieces to choose from and can move them according to whatever strategy they are using.
This game takes a little longer than a card game so there is less opportunity to work on sportsmanship in the same session, but there are many benefits to having a longer game time to work on other social skills as they play.
5. Suspend
This is not the most conventional game that I have seen used for social skills, however there are so many benefits to students working on social skills it is definitely one of my favourites!
This game includes a base with a metal stand and hook. Game pieces are various lengths with different bends in each one so that players can balance the pieces on the stand.
There is a die with different colours (so no reading or counting involved) and players have to place the coloured piece according to what they roll.
This game allows for social skills as players work together to ensure that the pieces don’t fall. Despite the fact that the person who places the piece that makes the structure fall is technically the loser of the game, I find that players want to succeed and tend to almost work as a team.
An added benefit here, aside from conversation and team building skills, is the multi sensory aspect of the game where students are usually standing at a table and using fine motor skills in piece placement.
Overall an excellent all around game for social skills with students of all abilities.
Final thoughts
Working on social skills with students is a key aspect to special education programming as it allows students to practice conversation skills, sportsmanship, emotion regulation, fine motor skills, and turn taking.
I have consistently found that these five games have been excellent tools to use within my social skills sessions with students of diverse needs and abilities.
I would love to hear your thoughts on how these games have worked in your own social skills groups and any other suggestions for games that you love too!
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Happy Planning!