EYFS Making Friends: Outdoor Friendship Activities
Looking for simple EYFS making friends activities? Helping young children build friendships is a key part of Early Years practice, especially in Nursery and Reception where children are learning how to share, take turns, communicate, join play and understand others. . To learn more about what Early Years Outdoors looks like at The Muddy Puddle Teacher. Start with our Beginners Guide to Early Years Outdoors.
Outdoor learning is a brilliant way to support friendship skills because children can move, play, talk, build, collect, imagine and solve problems together in a more natural way.
These EYFS friendship activities are low-prep, playful and ideal for supporting PSED, communication and language, turn-taking and social confidence.
New to Outdoor Friendship Activities? Start Here
If teaching friendship skills feels tricky, start small.
Try:
One short partner activity
One shared outdoor job
One simple game where children take turns
You do not need expensive resources. You can use:
hoops
cones
chalk
sticks
stones
leaves
buckets
beanbags
clipboards
picture cards
small world toys
natural loose parts
The aim is not to force friendships. The aim is to gently help children practise the skills they need to play alongside, join in, communicate, listen and cooperate. Start now, take a free 60-day trial.
EYFS making friends activities can support children to:
say hello
ask to join play
take turns
share resources
notice others
work together
use kind words
solve small problems
understand feelings
build confidence with peers
Try This Tomorrow
If you only do one thing, try this:
Find a Friend Nature Hunt
Give children a simple nature challenge to complete with a partner.
Ask each pair to find:
one leaf
one stick
one stone
one feather, if available
one thing that feels soft
one thing that feels rough
Encourage children to take turns choosing an object.
Adult prompts:
“Whose turn is it to choose?”
“Can you show your friend what you found?”
“Can you both carry the basket together?”
“What did your friend notice?”
Time: 10–15 minutes
Prep: Low
Learning: Turn-taking, communication, teamwork, sensory language and friendship skills
This is a brilliant quick win because children have a shared purpose and a simple reason to interact.
EYFS Outdoor Making Friends Activity Ideas
1. Friendship Treasure Hunt
Hide simple picture cards, heart shapes, kindness words or natural treasures around the outdoor area.
Children work in pairs or small groups to find them.
When they find a treasure, they can practise a friendship phrase such as:
“Come and look.”
“I found one.”
“Your turn.”
“Let’s do it together.”
“Thank you.”
“Can I help?”
This supports communication, confidence and positive social interaction.
2. Build a Friendship Den
Invite children to work together to build a small den for a teddy, toy animal or small world character.
They could use:
sticks
leaves
fabric
crates
logs
cardboard
natural loose parts
Ask:
What does the teddy need?
Who will collect sticks?
Who will make the bed?
How can we help each other?
Is there space for everyone?
This supports cooperation, problem-solving, role allocation and shared play.
3. Pass the Smile Circle
Sit outside in a small circle. One child passes a smile, wave, leaf, stone or soft object to another child.
As they pass it, they say something simple:
“Hello.”
“Your turn.”
“Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
“I like your idea.”
“You can have it.”
For children who are less verbal, they can pass, point, smile, gesture or use visuals.
This supports turn-taking, listening, confidence and belonging.
4. Partner Obstacle Trail
Create a simple outdoor trail where children complete challenges with a partner.
They might:
carry a hoop together
jump over a chalk river
balance along a line
pass a beanbag
move a bucket from one place to another
follow footprints
find matching cards
Encourage partner language:
“Wait for your friend.”
“Can you help?”
“Go together.”
“Swap turns.”
This supports physical development, teamwork and communication.
5. Kindness Stones
Children choose a stone and decorate it with chalk, water, natural marks or paint if appropriate.
Then they give the stone to a friend, place it in a kindness garden or use it as a talking object.
Prompts:
“Who helped you today?”
“Who would you like to thank?”
“What kind thing did your friend do?”
“How can we make someone smile?”
This supports PSED, emotional literacy and positive peer relationships.
Making Friends Activity for SEND Support
Friendship Choice Board Outdoors
Some children need more structure when learning friendship skills.
Create a simple outdoor friendship choice board with pictures or symbols for:
say hello
share
take turns
ask to play
help
stop
wait
thank you
my turn
your turn
Set up a calm partner activity, such as sorting leaves, building a small home for a toy or collecting stones.
Use short, clear prompts:
“Choose a friend.”
“Take turns.”
“Your turn.”
“My turn.”
“Help your friend.”
This can support:
communication
confidence
social understanding
turn-taking
emotional regulation
predictable routines
reduced anxiety around peer interaction
Children can take part through speech, pointing, gestures, signs, symbols or modelling.
How Outdoor Learning Supports Making Friends in EYFS
Outdoor learning can make friendship skills easier to practise because children often have more space, more movement and more shared tasks.
Outdoor friendship activities can help children:
play alongside others
move from parallel play to shared play
practise simple social language
build confidence with peers
experience success in small groups
regulate through movement
solve real problems together
use natural objects as shared interests
develop empathy and kindness
For some children, friendship grows more naturally when they are building, collecting, moving, digging, exploring or solving a problem together.
Useful Friendship Language for EYFS
You can model short phrases throughout outdoor play.
Try:
“Can I play?”
“Can I help?”
“Your turn.”
“My turn.”
“Let’s share.”
“Come with me.”
“I like your idea.”
“Thank you.”
“Stop please.”
“Are you okay?”
“Let’s do it together.”
Keep language simple, repeated and linked to real moments of play.
Outdoor Play : Let’s Play Spring Nature Explorers!
Want Ready-to-Teach EYFS Outdoor Learning Resources?
The Muddy Puddle Teacher Club helps busy teachers save planning time with:
ready-to-use EYFS outdoor activities
PSED outdoor learning ideas
friendship and social skills activities
outdoor communication games
SEND-friendly resources
play-based planning ideas
simple ways to take learning outside
Start now, take a free 60-day trial.
FAQs
What are good EYFS making friends activities?
Good EYFS making friends activities include partner nature hunts, friendship treasure hunts, shared den building, turn-taking circles, partner obstacle trails and kindness stones.
How do you teach friendship skills in EYFS?
Friendship skills in EYFS are best taught through play, modelling, repetition and real social moments. Children need opportunities to practise saying hello, taking turns, sharing, helping, waiting and asking to join play.
How can outdoor learning help children make friends?
Outdoor learning helps children make friends by giving them shared tasks, movement, space and playful reasons to communicate. Children can build, collect, explore, solve problems and play together in a more natural way.
What EYFS area of learning does making friends link to?
Making friends links strongly to Personal, Social and Emotional Development, but it also supports communication and language, physical development, understanding the world and expressive arts and design.
How can I support a child who struggles to make friends?
Start with small, structured partner activities. Use visuals, simple language, repeated routines and adult modelling. Choose activities based on the child’s interests so they have a natural reason to engage with others.
Are outdoor friendship activities good for SEND learners?
Yes. Outdoor friendship activities can support SEND learners by using movement, visuals, predictable routines, sensory materials, shared interests and clear social scripts. Children can communicate through words, gestures, signs or symbols.
What resources do I need for EYFS friendship activities?
You can start with simple resources such as hoops, cones, chalk, sticks, stones, leaves, buckets, beanbags, picture cards, clipboards and small world toys.
How can I teach turn-taking outdoors?
Use simple partner games such as passing a beanbag, collecting objects in turns, building together, following a trail or taking turns to choose the next movement. Model clear language such as “my turn” and “your turn.”
Ready for More EYFS Outdoor Learning Ideas?
If you want more simple, curriculum-linked outdoor learning ideas for Early Years, join The Muddy Puddle Teacher Club.
Start now, take a free 60-day trial today and access ready-to-use EYFS activities, PSED ideas, friendship resources and outdoor learning planning you can use straight away.
