Social Groups
Social groups provide a fantastic platform for helping individuals improve communication, build social skills, and enhance their overall well-being. These groups can foster self-awareness, resilience, and meaningful interpersonal connections through structured activities and guided discussions.
Below, I introduce key skills that can be targeted in social groups and offer practical examples of activities or games for each.

Developing Additional Social and Emotional Skills
Empathy Building
Developing empathy allows participants to connect with others more deeply by understanding different perspectives.
Activity Example: “Walk in Their Shoes”
Give the group members scenarios in which they imagine what another person might be feeling or thinking. Then, discuss as a group how to offer support or understanding.
Why it helps: This activity cultivates compassion and strengthens interpersonal relationships.
Conflict Resolution Social groups are an ideal space to practice constructively resolving conflicts.
Activity Example: “Conflict Role-Play”
Create mock conflicts and ask participants to resolve them using active listening, compromise, and empathy.
Why it helps: Role-playing builds confidence in handling real-life conflicts and navigating challenging social situations.
3. Active ListeningTeaching participants to listen effectively can improve relationships and reduce misunderstandings.
Activity Example: “Echo Game”
Pair participants up and have one person share something, while the other repeats it back in their own words to show understanding.
Why it helps: This activity builds trust and reinforces the importance of clear, intentional communication.
Incorporating Creativity into Social Groups
Art-Based Expression
Creativity is a powerful way to explore emotions and foster self-expression.
Activity Example: “Feelings Collage”
Have participants cut out images or words from magazines to create a visual representation of their current feelings.
Why it helps: This activity provides a safe outlet for emotional expression and increases self-awareness.
Storytelling and Role-Playing
Using imagination to address challenges allows participants to practice problem-solving in a fun, low-pressure way.
Activity Example: “Story Starters”
Provide a scenario and ask participants to create a story about what happens next.
Why it helps: Storytelling helps participants explore different perspectives and develop creativity in social contexts.
Using Movement to Build Connections
Drama and Theatre
Theatre games encourage teamwork and spontaneity.
Activity Example: “Mirroring Game”
Pairs of participants take turns mirroring each other’s movements and expressions.
Why it helps: This game builds rapport, fosters nonverbal communication, and promotes focus.
Team Sports or Cooperative Physical Activities
Movement-based activities provide an engaging way to build teamwork and reduce stress.
Activity Example: “Obstacle Course Challenge”
Participants work together to complete a physical challenge.
Why it helps: Collaborative activities encourage trust, problem-solving, and resilience.
Focusing on Emotional Literacy
Expanding Emotional Vocabulary
Helping participants name and identify emotions builds emotional intelligence.
Activity Example: “Emotion Cards”
Show cards with facial expressions or emotion words, and ask participants to describe scenarios where they’ve felt that way.
Why it helps: This activity increases participants’ ability to understand and articulate their emotions.
Building Emotional Resilience
Practising strategies for handling difficult emotions builds confidence in navigating life’s challenges.
Activity Example: “What Would You Do?”
Present hypothetical challenges (e.g., losing a game or being excluded) and discuss how to handle the emotions.
Why it helps: This activity normalises emotional challenges and fosters problem-solving.
Building a Sense of Community and Fun
Icebreaker Activities
Starting with light-hearted games sets the tone for group connection.
Activity Example: “Two Truths and a Lie”
Participants share two truths and one lie about themselves, and the group guesses which is which.
Why it helps: Icebreakers create an atmosphere of curiosity and encourage interaction.
Group Celebrations
Recognising achievements fosters positivity and strengthens group bonds.
Activity Example: Celebrate milestones with certificates, small awards, or fun group activities.
Why it helps: Celebrations reinforce a sense of accomplishment and build group cohesion.
Adapting for Specific Populations
Social Groups for Parents
Equipping parents with strategies helps extend the benefits of social groups to the home environment.
Activity Example: “Parent Toolbox” workshops focusing on strategies to encourage positive behaviours in children.
Inclusive Practices for Neurodiverse Participants
Adapt activities to accommodate sensory needs, processing styles, and communication preferences.
Example: Offer visual schedules, sensory breaks, or nonverbal communication tools to ensure all participants can engage meaningfully.
Encouraging Long-Term Engagement
Journaling and Reflection
Encouraging participants to reflect on their experiences promotes growth.
Activity Example: Provide journals for participants to document their emotions, goals, and learning after each session.
Goal-Tracking Systems
Recognising progress keeps participants motivated.
Activity Example: Use sticker charts, progress boards, or digital tools to track achievements and celebrate small wins.
Other Ideas:
1. Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is the foundation of how we perceive ourselves and interact with the world. Strengthening self-esteem helps participants feel more confident and valued.
Activity Example: “Compliment Circle”
How it works: Sit the group in a circle. Each participant takes a turn saying something positive about the person sitting next to them. Prompts like “What’s one thing they do well?” or “What’s something you admire about them?” can encourage depth.
Why it helps: This activity boosts self-esteem by encouraging participants to recognise their strengths and receive positive feedback.
2. Character Strengths
Recognising and utilising personal strengths helps individuals thrive in personal and social contexts.
Activity Example: “Strengths Scavenger Hunt”
How it works: Provide participants with character strengths (e.g., kindness, creativity, perseverance). Ask them to find examples of these strengths in their peers during a group task. Afterwards, share findings and discuss how these strengths contributed to the group’s success.
Why it helps: This activity fosters self-awareness and helps participants appreciate their and others’ unique abilities.
3. Anxiety Management
Learning how to manage anxiety is essential for improving emotional regulation and confidence in social interactions.
Activity Example: “Calm Jar Creation”
How it works: Provide jars, glitter, water, and glue. Participants create their own “calm jars,” which they can shake to observe how glitter settles as they practice slow, deep breathing.
Why it helps: This activity introduces a simple grounding tool to help participants regulate their anxious emotions.
4. Growth Mindset
Encouraging a growth mindset helps participants view challenges as learning opportunities rather than setbacks.
Activity Example: “Challenge Cards”
How it works: Prepare cards with scenarios where someone faces a challenge (e.g., struggling to learn a new skill). Participants discuss how the character could use a growth mindset to overcome the difficulty.
Why it helps: This activity encourages positive self-talk and a problem-solving approach to challenges.
5. Problem-Solving
Problem-solving skills are crucial for navigating social situations and resolving conflicts effectively.
Activity Example: “Group Puzzle”
How it works: Provide a physical puzzle or LEGO build and assign roles to participants (e.g., builder, planner, encourager). They must collaborate to complete the task within a set time.
Why it helps: This activity promotes teamwork and teaches participants to work together to overcome obstacles.
6. Assertiveness
Developing assertiveness helps participants express their needs and opinions confidently while respecting others.
Activity Example: “Role-Play Scenarios”
How it works: Create scenarios where participants must practice assertive communication, such as asking to join a group activity or politely disagreeing with a peer.
Why it helps: Role-playing builds confidence in expressing thoughts and handling social interactions assertively.
7. Self-Compassion
Practising self-compassion encourages participants to treat themselves with kindness, especially in difficult moments.
Activity Example: “Letter to Myself”
How it works: Ask participants to write a letter to themselves as if they were a supportive friend, offering encouragement and understanding for a recent challenge they faced.
Why it helps: This activity fosters self-kindness and reduces negative self-talk.
8. Self-Awareness
Developing self-awareness helps participants understand their emotions, thoughts, and behaviours, leading to more meaningful interactions.
Activity Example: “Emotion Mapping”
How it works: Provide participants with an outline of a human figure. Ask them to colour-code different body areas where they feel specific emotions (e.g., red for anger, blue for sadness). Follow this with a discussion about how emotions show up in their bodies.
Why it helps: This activity allows participants to connect with their emotions and better understand the mind-body connection.
9. Relaxation and Meditation
Relaxation and mindfulness techniques can help participants stay grounded and manage stress in social settings.
Activity Example: “Guided Body Scan Meditation”
How it works: Lead participants through a guided meditation, asking them to focus on relaxing each part of their body while noticing their breath. Provide prompts to acknowledge thoughts without judgment and return to their breath.
Why it helps: This practice introduces a calming strategy to help participants become present, reduce stress, and improve focus during social interactions.
Encouraging Social Group Initiatives
Focusing on these key skills and incorporating engaging activities into your social group sessions can create a supportive environment where participants feel empowered to grow. These activities can be adapted and delivered in many ways, including Lego®-based Therapy (LBT). This structured, highly engaging approach uses collaborative play to develop communication and social skills.
If you’re unsure where to begin, Bea Inclusive offers two pre-planned graduate programmes to guide you through starting and running social groups, particularly LBT, while keeping you and your young people actively engaged. Visit our website to learn more and take the first step toward making a positive impact!
Until the next time
Beata Bednarska
Lego®-based Therapy Expert|
Trainer & Psychotherapist
CBT Trainee| BACP; BABCP; CPCAP
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