Inside: Preschool friendship activities are important for strong social growth. Here are over 20 fun activities that encourage friendship building!
Starting from the first day of school, we include friendship activities in our day.
At the age of 3, children are starting to play more with each other, forming new friendships. We talk about what makes a good friend. We do friendship activities, we read friendship stories, and we sing friendship songs. All year long.
I like to have a go-to list of ideas for moments when I especially feel we need to focus on being good friends. What is a good friend? How do we treat our friends? What do we like to do with our friends? How do our friends make us feel?
I put together this list of picture books, activities and songs that I hope teachers and parents will find helpful.
Preschool Friendship Books
20+ Preschool Friendship Activities
Roll a jar back and forth that is part of a friendship art activity.
Put together a friendship banner to hang on your classroom wall (free printable).
Teach kindness while building friendships in the classroom.
Make a friendship necklace. (Inner Child Fun)
Learn how to play with friends with this free printable game. (Powerful Mothering)
Work on feelings with a monster “what is a friend” game. (The OT Toolbox)
Have fun with DIY friendship blocks. (Teach Preschool)
Encourage your preschoolers to work together to make a colorful mural. (Munchkins and Moms)
Enjoy a tea party with a friend.
Practice sharing while making friendship ice cream. (Mama Smiles)
Learn how to use kind words with this easy sensory-filled lesson. (Preschool Powol Packets)
Add some finger-painting process art to encourage working together. (Stay At Home Educator)
Mix red, yellow and blue using hands with a friend. (The Simplicity of Learning)
Make bread to give to a friend.
Gather the children together and make friendship soup. (Little Sprouts Learning)
Work on sharing with a friend while pretending to share ice cream. (Sunny Day Family)
Get all of the children’s hands involved while making a friendship tree. (The Happy Teapot)
Cut out paper doll chain and write down ways to be good friends. (Gift of Curiosity)
Make frosty pinecones after reading Penguin and Pinecone.
Build friendships by playing one of these teamwork games. (A Mom with a Lesson Plan)
Use photos of your child to make a personalized friendship social story. (Inner Child Fun)
Play a friendship game. (Meaningful Mama)
Preschool Friendship Songs
What are your favorite friendship activities? Let me know in the comments section!
More fun activities:
15 Picture Book Activities that Preschoolers Love
25+ Dramatic Play Ideas for Toddlers and Preschoolers
All About Me Activity Plans
I’ve teamed up with other early childhood teachers and homeschoolers to put together these hands-on all about me activity plans for toddlers and preschoolers!
Easy to follow activities that include modifications and adaptations to meet the needs of all learners.
Note: This is a digital product. That means when you make a purchase, you will be emailed a link to the activities.
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Thank you for sharing our friendship paper doll activity!
Happy to, Katie!
I love this article! I will try to find ways to use some of these with my children to build friendships with their classmates as they start school