One of the greatest rewards of parenting is witnessing your child make a new friend [1]. And even though it can sometimes be tempting to give into screen time over scheduling a playdate [2], it's crucial for kids to interact so they can develop and learn the social skills [3] and values they need to relate to others in a positive way — now and later on in life. Even though kids learn about social development by following the leads of their parents and teachers [4], it's just as important for kids to engage in social interaction through their own friendships and relationships. Here are the best toys that make social interaction easy, and help promote social development concepts.
Melissa & Doug School Time! Classroom Play Set Game
Pretend play allows kids to mimic the kind of behavior they experience every day. The School Time! Classroom Play Set Game [4] ($25) makes an imaginary classroom session come to life.
Original UNO Card Game
Simple card games, like UNO [5] ($2), require multiple players, and each child has to take a turn.
KidKraft Professional Dolls Set
Playing with dolls is an easy way for kids to interact with one another. Each child can take on the role of one or more dolls, and this Professional Dolls Set [5] ($28) offers children a nice variety, depending on what job interests them the most.
Step2 Shootin' Hoops Pro Basketball Set
If kids are still too young for a full-court game, they can enjoy multi-player basketball games like Horse and Around the World with friends. The Step2 Shootin' Hoops Pro Basketball Set [6] ($54, originally $60) adjusts to three different heights.
Battat Deluxe Doctor Kit
Kids might not jump for joy at the chance to go to the doctor in real life, but they can use the Battat Deluxe Doctor Kit [7] ($25) for a pretend check-up exam with one another.
Alphabet Bingo Board Game
One child can be assigned the bingo caller, while the others participate in the game. This Alphabet Bingo Board Game [8] ($13) is an educational twist on the classic.
Felt Vegetable Garden
Gardening is a wholesome activity for kids, but it's especially useful for pretend play purposes. Children can work together and assign different gardening tasks to one another with this Felt Vegetable Garden [9] ($46).
KidKraft Classic Kitchen Set
Kitchen sets, like this Classic Kitchen Set [10] ($75, originally $83), are amazing tools for social interaction. Kids can pretend to be a waiter at a restaurant, play house, or cook for each other — the possibilities are endless.
Educational Insights Pancake Pile-Up! Relay Race Board Game
Any type of relay race gives kids a chance to participate in some friendly competition. The Pancake Pile-Up! Relay Race Board Game [10] ($18) has easy-to-follow rules and is great for younger children, too.
Kiddey Knight's Castle Kids Play Tent
A child's imagination can run wild when they get to play with a play house or pop-up tent. This Castle Play Tent [11] ($24, originally $40) is great for a medieval-themed game among kiddos.
Little Cosmetics Shop Pretend Makeup Beauty Set
Harmless and toxin-free, this Pretend Makeup Beauty Set [12] ($25) can transform any little kid's bedroom into a beauty salon. One friend can play the role of makeup artist while the other is the client.
Fun Fishing Game
Complete with two fishing rods, the Fun Fishing Game [13] ($18) is ideal for any pair of friends that want to spruce up their fishing skills. At the end of the game, both children can compare how many fish they've caught, and help each other throughout the game.
Craft-Tastic Make & Give Giving Hearts Craft Kit
Children can have fun creating these adorable heart crafts for one another, and exchange them to new and old friends alike. The Make & Give Giving Hearts Craft Kit [14] ($15) offers instructions that are easy to follow.
Indigo Jamm Little Carpenters Toolbox
Mini mechanics can lend each other a hand while pretending to build various items with the Little Carpenters Toolbox [15] ($40).
Spin Master Games Hedbanz Act Up
The guessing-game style board game, Hedbanz Act Up [16] ($19, originally $20), lets multiple children in on the fun. It also requires important social habits through one-one-one interactions.
PlanToys Croquet Game
Sports-based toys, like this Croquet Game [16] ($36), are amazing for social development, and allows kids to practice important skills like turn-taking, without even thinking twice.
Seedling Farmers Market Playtime Kit
Children can set up their own stands and sell their products to one another with this adorable Farmers Market Set [17] ($25).
The World of Eric Carle Animal Masks
These Animal Masks [18] ($10, originally $16) make dressing up easy. Each child can be a different animal, and participate in make-believe games and stories.
Crayola Sidewalk Chalk
The sky is the limit when it comes to social interaction with Sidewalk Chalk [18] ($5). Kids can draw up and play hop scotch together, or make larger-than-life Pictionary creations.
Outset Media Kids Scavenger Hunt Game
A Kids Scavenger Hunt Game [18] ($18) is great for a wide range of ages. Kids can form teams and help one another find the items in the game.
Premium Joy Under the Sea Foam Floor Puzzle
Puzzles can be enjoyed solo, but multiple children can work together while figuring out where each piece goes. Putting together this Foam Floor Puzzle [19] ($24) will allow them to strategize as a team.
Imagination Generation Wood Eats! Happy Birthday Party Cake
Kids can set up a mock birthday party with this Happy Birthday Party Cake [20] ($17). One person can be the birthday girl or boy, while the other kids sing.
B. Toys Woo Hue Parachute
Playing with a Parachute [21] ($30) like this one requires multiple children's help to make it go up and down, or around in a circle.
Winning Moves Games Guess Who? Board Game
The Guess Who? Board Game [22] ($16, originally $18) makes it necessary for two children to ask each other a series of questions and respond — one of the most basic forms of social interaction.
Melissa & Doug Let's Play House! Dust, Sweep & Mop Play Set
Children can explore the basic concepts of playing house with this Let's Play House! Dust, Sweet & Mop Play Set [22] ($27). Kids can assign each other a specific cleaning task, like mopping or sweeping.
Majik Bean Bag Bowling Set
A unique twist on a classic game, the Bean Bag Bowling Set [22] ($20) is an easy way for younger children to successfully start and finish a type of sporting game together. Waiting their turn and rooting for one another are both possibilities with this.
Learning Resources Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register
A pretend play game of grocery shopping with this Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register [22] ($30) lets one child be the cashier, while the other checks out with their items.
Hairdresser Pretend Play Toy Fashion Beauty Play Set
A trip to the hair salon with this Hairdresser Pretend Play Toy Fashion Beauty Play Set [23] ($16) allows kids to take turns being the hairdresser and customer.
Battat Take-Apart Crane Truck
This Take-Apart Crane Truck [24] ($30) makes it possible for two or more children to lend a helping hand to each other while discovering ways to build and rebuild a object.
Elmer's Galaxy Slime Starter Pack
DIY [25] slime is still very much a thing these days. Kids can work together while creating their own with this Galaxy Slime Starter Pack [25] ($7).
Fisher-Price Little People Caring for Animals Farm
The Caring for Animals Farm [25] ($35) allows children to take on the everyday roles of a farmer. One child can play the roles of the farm animals, while the other one tends to the chores around the farm.
Cranium Board Game
The Cranium Board Game [26] ($25) is an interactive board game that requires more than one player. Multiple skills are required to complete the game, so every child can feel like they have contributed by doing what they're best at.
Fisher-Price Grow-to-Pro Super Sounds Soccer
Grow-to-Pro Super Sounds Soccer [27] ($30, originally $35) is perfect for a miniature team of soccer stars in the making, and kids can root their team members on throughout the game.
Play-Doh Rainbow Starter Pack
The options of playing with a Play-Doh Rainbow Starter Pack [27] ($5) are endless. Kids can create fake meals, flowers, and animals with one another.
Hasbro Speak Out Game
The popular Speak Out Game [28] ($20, originally $21) involves one player trying to guess what the other is saying — a simple, silly, and funny way for kids to interact with one another while sharing a good laugh.
Melissa & Doug Pirate Role Play Costume Set
Costume role play brings imaginative pretend play games to a whole new level, like with this Pirate Role Play Costume Set [29] ($30). There are other options available as well, from doctors to firefighters, which are clever ways for kids to mimic real-life careers and situations.
Giant Kerplunk Board Game
Kids take turns working toward one common goal together when they play with the Giant Kerplunk Board Game [29] ($40).
Pottery Barn Kids Green Toys Tea Set
Kids can practice their manners on one another (an invaluable social skill) during their very own tea party, using this Green Toys Tea Set [30] ($29).
Liberty Imports Badminton Set for Kids
A Badminton Set for Kids [31] ($7) allows children to play a one-one-one game, which won't just help them work on their sporting skills, but also lets them practice winning and losing in a positive way.
Hasbro Twister Game
Twister [32] ($8, originally $20) requires multiple players to work together in a friendly manner while competing against one another.
LEGO Creator Modular Modern Home 31068 Building Kit
Building a more complex LEGO set can be tough. With the LEGO Creator Modular Modern Home 31068 Building Kit [33] ($24, originally $30), kids can follow instructions together, and each utilize their strengths while working toward the finished product.
Hasbro Connect 4 Game
A classic game of Connect 4 Game [33] ($9, originally $10) makes children think a little harder, and can be an easy tool to promote friendly, healthy competition in a one-on-one setting.
The Puppet Company Knitted Puppet
Putting on a puppet show gives children the opportunity to create imaginative characters of their very own, and bring them to life by communicating with each other. The The Puppet Company Knitted Puppet [34] ($21, originally $25) is a cute choice.
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Band Set
This Deluxe Band Set [34] ($40) lets children practice social development skills by allowing them to form a band, where each person is assigned an instrument. They can play classic songs, make them up, or march in a parade together.
Jenga Game
A game of Jenga [34] ($10, originally $13) makes team work an absolute necessity, as each player helps one another rearrange the pieces to win the game as a unit.