According to Donna Whittaker, VP of Curriculum and Education at Big Blue Marble Academy, “social emotions skills are more important than ever” and are essential to success in all areas of life. SEL can be an impactful learning tool for kids of all ages, so consider what skills you’re hoping teach your child while ensuring they’re age appropriate and entertaining. We carefully considered design, value, ease of use, age recommendations, and toy safety when reviewing products. Here are the best social-emotional learning toys on the market. The TeeTurtle Original Reversible Octopus Plushie ranks high on our list because this toy is simple, effective, and can be played with by kids and adults. Available in a rainbow of colors, and safe for kids as young as 3 years old, this plush octopus has a smiley face, but when it’s turned inside out, it presents a sad/grouchy face. The idea is that kids can use the octopus to help identify their emotions and to let others know, as well. For example, if they’re feeling sad, they can turn the toy to the sad face and then set it on their desk so friends, teachers, parents, or whoever can see how they’re feeling and proceed accordingly (so it’s not only good SEL for the person who as the toy, but also for anyone who encounters it, too). Price at time of publication: $15 Price at time of publication: $11 Kids will not only act out scenarios but they’ll also have the opportunity to pick which doll and emotion combination is best for the scenario. For younger kids who aren’t old enough for imaginative play yet, these dolls are great for teaching them the different emotions and allowing them to practice what they see. Each doll is made from super soft fabric, is machine washable, and is safe for kids of all ages. Additionally, the set comes with a little basket for carrying and storing the babies. Price at time of publication: $45 Perfection is a great game for practicing these skills because it’s a timed challenge that literally blows up all of the hard work in the end. It puts the child in control of how fast they can get the puzzle pieces into their right slot and helps them practice managing their emotional response if the time runs out before they are finished. The game can be played by one or more players and is safe for kids as young as 4 years old. Price at time of publication: $22 In the game, players pull “helping tokens” from a bag and see if what they pulled can help anyone on the playing board, like a girl who’s sad because she’s stuck in the rain, or a boy who fell while playing soccer, or a child who’s angry because they’re missing a puzzle piece. Kids can practice identifying emotions, empathizing with the characters, and problem-solving to figure out what can help the characters feel better. Price at time of publication: $18 The game takes between 20 and 30 minutes to play and challenges players to figure out the mystery before time runs out. Price at time of publication: $24 The cozy plush toy is safe for kids as young as 3 years old and is safe for the washing machine. In addition to the lovey and book, kids also receive an affirmation card about problem-solving and asking for help when needed as well as access to downloads for even more practice and fun. Price at time of publication: $45 Parents can ask their kids these questions at the dinner table, in the car on long trips, or any time they could use a good conversation starter. The deck comes with 130 different cards with questions that will get both kids and adults talking. Price at time of publication: $35

Self-Awareness: Integrating social and personal identities, emotion identification, linking feelings, values, and thoughts, examining prejudices and biases, having a growth mindsetSelf-Management: Managing emotions, identifying and using stress management techniques, showing the courage to take initiative, setting personal and collective goals, exhibiting self-discipline and self-motivation Social Awareness: Seeing others’ perspectives, demonstrating empathy and compassion, showing concern for the feelings of others, recognizing strengths in others, identifying diverse social norms, including unjust onesRelationship Skills: Effective communication, cultural competency, developing positive relationships, conflict resolution, showing leadership in groups, standing up for the rights of others, seeking or offering help/support when needed, resisting negative social pressureResponsible Decision-Making: Demonstrating curiosity and open-mindedness, evaluating personal, interpersonal, community, and institutional impacts, recognizing the usefulness of critical thinking skills, learning how to make a reasoned judgment after analyzing information, data, and facts, anticipating and evaluating the consequences of one’s actions

Age Appropriateness

As with any toy, age appropriateness is important for both safety and general use. First, in order to strengthen kids’ social and emotional skills through play, a toy or game needs to be designed for their stage of development. For example, if you get a toy for a 4-year-old that is meant for kids as young as 6, then the 4-year-old might not take away as much from playing with it as you might hope. As for safety, age appropriateness is especially important for younger kids, as everything from their general understanding to their strength to their motor skills can change drastically in the span of a few months, so what is safe for a 3-year-old may be too risky for a 2-year-old. 

Entertainment

The only way to teach kids SEL through play is with toys, games, and activities that they actually find fun, so when you’re looking for SEL toys, remember to make sure they’re actually fun. It doesn’t have to be overly fancy, either, because Whittaker explains toys like dolls, blocks, and even mirrors are great toys for fun and learning. Mirrors, for example, “help young children discover a sense of self when an adult points out to them that it is their reflection in the mirror,” she says, “This provides the adult an opportunity to talk and label the child’s emotions as they play, [saying something like], ‘Look at that smile on your face! You must be feeling happy.’” As children grow older, collaborative games are great for SEL, because they offer a fun challenge but still give caregivers the opportunity to walk their child through important social and emotional lessons as the game carries on. 

Why Trust Verywell Family

This article was written by Ashley Ziegler, a full-time parenting writer and a mom to a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old. Over the years, she has researched and tested hundreds of children’s products both for her writing career and as a parent for personal use. As a mom to a neurodivergent child, Ashley has spent hours working with specialists and researching different ways to help her daughter learn how to identify and self-regulate her big emotions. When creating this list of recommendations, she considered her personal experience with SEL toys/games, the expert opinion of an early childhood education expert, as well as products’ quality, longevity, age-appropriateness, and safety. Basically, anything that teaches a child or an adult how to identify emotions in themselves or others, how to regulate their own feelings, work within a community, and/or develop and maintain relationships could fall under the umbrella of SEL.  Research shows that social-emotional learning helps children grow into confident, self-aware, and emotionally intelligent adults. According to a study, 27 percent of students that engaged in social-emotional learning improved their academic performance while an additional 24 percent of students improved their social behavior. In a follow-up study, students that participated in SEL continued to show improved behavioral regulation. This article was reviewed by Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart, a Review Board Member for Verywell who is also is a Pediatric Psychologist and Board Certified in Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. Dr. Lockhart has 16 years of experience working with thousands of children, families, and professionals and understands the value of Social and Emotional Awareness and Learning.

More Toys for Kids

When it comes to toys for kids, our team has you covered. The Verywell Family team of editors (who are parents or have nieces and nephews of their own) have tested, gifted, and personally recommend every item we feature. Find more of our top toy picks for every developmental stage and personality phase here:

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