Group therapy activities for kids and teens

Whether a child struggles with emotional regulation or needs to improve their interpersonal communication, group therapy activities for kids can help address many clinical issues simply by joining clients together to accomplish shared tasks.

I’ve witnessed first-hand the power of play therapy and group therapy activities for kids and teens through years of working as a clinician in a psychiatric hospital. The majority of these observations came while I was leading children and adolescent groups in outpatient and inpatient departments.

Working with child therapy clients is incredibly rewarding. Kids and teens who present with depressive symptoms can increase their optimism and reduce social isolation through guided peer interaction. Those presenting with anxiety can build self-confidence and improve stress management in a safe environment.

Through engaging group counseling activities, those who struggle with anger management can develop patience and practice healthy communication, while those on the opposite side of the spectrum can use assertive communication worksheets. 

Additionally, clients experiencing post-traumatic stress can add to their support systems while lowering avoidance and hyper-vigilance behaviors when participating in targeted group therapy activities for kids.

How do you organize group counseling activities?

These group counseling activities are appropriate for school-aged clients and teens and can be used to address socialization issues, emotional dysregulation, and behavioral challenges in a clinical setting.

In my clinical experience, I’ve found that group therapy activities for kids are most appropriate for clients who are at a developmental level of at least age 5 and who are assessed as appropriate for a peer-group setting through your practice's standard intake screening—generally excluding clients presenting with active self-harm, suicidal ideation, significant aggression risk, or psychotic symptoms, which typically require a higher level of individualized care.

For therapists and counselors who see group clients in-person or virtually via telehealth, SimplePractice makes it easy to quickly book group therapy sessions, document notes for group appointments, and bill separately for therapy sessions with up to 15 clients.

Groups should be organized based on the ages of members and the specific clinical modality involved, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). 

My groups at the hospital were typically divided into three cohorts:

• Children ages 5 to 10

• Pre-teens ages 11 to 14

• Teenagers ages 15 to 17

The focus of these cohorts is for clients to learn healthy coping skills to help them better process stressful situations.

What are effective group therapy activities for teens?

Listed below are group therapy activities for teens (ages 11 to 17) you can use in your own private practice to foster engagement.

1. Scribble drawings

Give every teen one piece of paper and a marker. Direct them to scribble in one continuous motion once you say, “Go!” Wait several seconds, then tell everyone to stop and pass their paper to the person on their left.

Give the teens 10 minutes to use colored pencils to make a picture out of the scribble. Once time is up, take turns letting each teen display their paper and explain what they chose to make out of it.

Clinicians can use this group therapy activity for teens to emphasize the connection between what the teens did (making something out of nothing) to real-life challenges, like tension between friends, emotionally absent caregivers, and academic anxiety. 

These types of group therapy activities for kids and teens highlight cognitive reframing, which is a core component of CBT.

2. Low-budget fashion show

Divide the teens into teams with at least three people in each group. Provide each team with the same assortment of simple items, such as magazines, newspapers, packing tape, scissors, cardboard, and yarn. Instruct them to choose one teen to be the “model” and the others to be the “outfitters.”

Give them 30 minutes to create an original outfit. Once the time limit is reached, tell all the “models” to remain outside the room while everyone else is seated. Play music as you direct the models down the runway.

After the show ends, ask each team to share what their experience was like. Process with the teens how much value they put on outside appearance and how much influence is given by their peers. 

This fun group therapy activity provides an excellent window into their self-esteem and social dynamics.

3. Tree rings

Explain how we can know how old a tree is by counting the rings inside its trunk. Emphasize there is much we can learn about a person based on the experiences in their years.

Give each teen a marker to draw the number of concentric circles to match their age. Tell them to write their birthdate in the center circle, then add memorable events to each following ring. Note that these events can be positive or negative, since our lives are not composed entirely of one or the other.

Once everyone is finished, ask for volunteers to share their circles with the group. Remind teens they’ll be able to add rings as they age, and ask what events they’d like to see happen in the upcoming years.

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What are some motivational group therapy activities?

These motivational group therapy activities work well for a wider age range (ages 5 to 17).

1. Toilet paper affirmations

Tell group members to sit in a circle while you pull out a fresh roll of toilet paper. Make sure the toilet paper is perforated so it can be torn into individual squares.

Explain that the roll will be used for a game, and instruct group members to pass it around the circle, tearing off as much as they want. Once the roll returns to you, tell the group that just like toilet paper is used to “clean up,” we all need to clear our minds of the negative thoughts that pile up.

Direct members to count the number of toilet paper squares they have. Tell them this is the number of positive comments they’ll need to share with the group, whether complimenting other people or noting good things about themselves. Pass a clean bag around as each member shares their positive comments, dropping each square in.

Explain that with each positive comment, there is a mental “cleaning up” taking place. This is one of the most engaging group therapy activities for kids focusing on positive reinforcement.

2. Superhero creations

Before starting this motivational group therapy activity, download a blank superhero image and print enough copies for everyone. Then, tell group members to use colored markers and pencils to create a superhero with special powers.

Give them 20 minutes to complete the pictures before asking for volunteers to share with the group. Note which superheroes have “good” or “evil” powers, and whether or not they help people.

Process with the group what makes superheroes special, if they consider anyone in their life to be a superhero, and how they can be a superhero to others. This naturally opens up discussions around trauma, safety, and empowerment.

3. Self-portrait compliments

Tell group members to draw a self-portrait on a blank piece of paper and to include their name at the bottom. Once finished, direct them to write five words that describe themselves somewhere inside the image.

Help members tape their self-portraits to a wall. Provide everyone with the same color pen and tell them to write one positive word on every other person’s picture. Gather the group into a circle and discuss what it was like to read compliments from the other members.

Compare what members wrote about themselves to what their fellow group members wrote about them to help build self-worth.

Try these fun group therapy activities

These fun group therapy activities are ideal for clients ages 10 to 17 and can easily be integrated into your treatment plans.

1. Paper house making

Provide scissors, tape, and coloring supplies. Give each member a blank sheet of computer paper. Explain that what happens in our homes can provide support or stress that we carry when we leave.

Direct the group to make paper houses and decorate them based on the level of support or stress in their home. Take note of the finished products, and ask for volunteers to share their house with the group.

Ask members how they can lower the stress they feel at home or increase the support they feel there. This is a highly effective assessment tool when integrating group therapy activities for kids who may be dealing with family conflict.

2. All wrapped up

In this fun group therapy activity, first tell the group there are some things in life we can control and some we can’t. When we focus on what we can’t control, we become stressed, depressed, anxious, or angry.

Divide the group into teams with at least three people in each. Provide each team with the same items: wrapping paper, bows, ribbon, tape, and scissors. Direct the teams to each choose one member to be “wrapped up” and the others to be “wrappers.”

Give the teams 30 minutes to use their supplies to wrap up the one member. Next, instruct the “wrapped up” members to break out of their wrappings. Process with the group what it felt like to be “wrapped up,” and connect this experience to what it feels like to be out of control.

3. Emotion catchers

Provide coloring supplies and give each member an Emotion Catcher sheet. Tell the group that coping skills are actions we take to relieve stress.

Review healthy coping skills (i.e., taking a walk, playing with a pet, practicing mindfulness). Lead members in coloring each corner of the Emotion Catcher a different color, then cutting out and folding it. Ask one member to demonstrate using the Catcher with you.

Here’s what you do: Put both your index fingers and thumbs into the paper pockets. Ask the group member to pick a color, and spell aloud the color’s name while opening and closing the Catcher. Ask the member to pick a number from inside. Count aloud while opening and closing it. Finally, ask the member to pick a new number, lift the flap, and read aloud the coping skill inside.

Give time for members to use their Catchers with each other, and discuss plans for using the healthy coping skills. Integrating tangible tools makes group counseling activities much more impactful.

4. The worry jar

A worry jar is a classic CBT tool used to help child therapy clients externalize their anxiety. Provide a glass or plastic jar and art supplies for the group to decorate it. Ask clients to write down their worries on slips of paper and place them in the jar.

This group counseling activity allows clinicians to discuss how acknowledging and "containing" worries can reduce their immediate impact on the nervous system. It's one of the most effective group therapy activities for kids who struggle with rumination.

5. Feelings Jenga

Write different emotions or coping skills on the blocks of a standard Jenga set. As each group member pulls a block, they read the emotion and share a time they felt that way, or describe a coping skill they use to manage it.

This activity naturally integrates DBT mindfulness and emotional regulation skills, providing a safe, game-based environment for vulnerability.

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How to adapt virtual group therapy activities

Telehealth is highly prevalent, and utilizing virtual group therapy activities ensures care remains uninterrupted.

1. Remote show-and-tell

For this virtual therapy activity, first explain to the group how each person is unique, with different strengths and experiences. Ask members to choose five items from the room they are currently in to “show-and-tell” with the group.

Allow five minutes for item selection, then group members take turns sharing their items. Note any similarities between group members when they’re presented, in order to improve group cohesion and clinical rapport.

2. Scavenger hunt

Make a list of five items for group members to find (i.e., something red, something that starts with the letter “T,” something soft, something shiny, and something to wear).

Read the list to the group, then give them five minutes to find one of each item. When members return to their screens, direct them to share which items they found. This serves as a great grounding technique and icebreaker for telehealth sessions.

3. Dance-off

This activity is best used with clients ages 5 to 10. Tell the group that somatic movement helps both our bodies and minds by energizing us and regulating the nervous system.

Challenge them to a dance-off. Direct the group to stand up wherever they are and begin moving to the music. Play two to three songs before processing with the group how they felt before, during, and after the dance-off.

4. Balloon breathing

Somatic movement and breathwork are essential for regulating the nervous system. Instruct the group to imagine their belly is a balloon. Have them inhale deeply through their nose to "fill the balloon," then exhale slowly through their mouth to "deflate" it.

This simple grounding technique is highly effective for clients presenting with anxiety and can be easily adapted as one of your regular virtual group therapy activities.

In closing

Group counseling activities can be hugely beneficial to child and adolescent clients across various developmental stages. Incorporating a mix of these group therapy activities for kids into your practice can improve engagement, teach emotional regulation, and foster essential social skills.

Sources

• Child Mind Institute. (2023). Social anxiety group therapy.

• Harvard Health Publishing. (2026). Treating anxiety and stress disorders with therapy. 

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