Social Skills Games for Children

Plummer (speech and language therapy, De Montfort U., UK) offers this activity guide to teachers, counselors, and other professionals working with children ages 5-12 who are struggling to develop or demonstrate social skills. Introductory chapters address social skills as they relate to development, the theory behind the use of non-competitive games to build social skills, strategies for structuring the emotional environment, transfer and maintenance of skills, and self-reflection and self-care for the adult leader. The final two-thirds of the book comprises 81 group games which fall under the main headings of: non-competitive ways to chose group leaders, ice-breaking skills, self-awareness and self-control, effective listening and observation, communication skills, feelings and empathy, cooperation and negotiation, problem solving in groups, and wind-downs and celebrations. Annotation c2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Deborah M. Plummer is the best-selling author of Helping Children to Build Self-Esteem, Second Edition; Helping Adolescents and Adults to Build Self-Esteem; Self-Esteem Games for Children; Anger Management Games for Children; The Adventures of the Little Tin Tortoise: A Self-Esteem Story with Activities for Teachers, Parents and Carers and Using Interactive Imagework with Children, all published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. She is a registered speech and language therapist and imagework practitioner with over 20 years' experience of facilitating groups and working individually with both children and adults. Formerly a clinical lead therapist working within the NHS, she now lectures at De Montfort University, Leicester, UK and runs workshops and short courses on the uses of imagery and issues of self-esteem in the UK and internationally.