Empathy
Learn to understand how others feel
Interactive Social Game
Left Out
Help Bear decide what to do when Cat wants to join the game
BETA
What You Will Practice
Active Listening
Practice being present for friends
Supporting Others
Discover ways to help when someone is struggling
A Free Game About Being Left Out, for Kids Ages 5-10
Two friends are deep into building a fort when Cat walks up and asks to join. Bear has to decide what to do, and so does your child. Every choice leads somewhere different, from inviting Cat in to leaving him standing alone.
This is one of the hardest moments of childhood friendship: someone wants in, and the group has already started. Instead of telling kids what is right, the game lets them try a choice and watch how it makes Cat feel. That is how the lesson sticks.
What This Game Teaches
- Including others: Noticing the child on the outside and finding a real way to bring them in
- Empathy: Seeing how it feels to be the one waiting to be asked
- Repair: Going back and fixing a moment after someone gets hurt, even when it feels awkward
- Speaking up: Answering a friend who reaches out instead of staying quiet
Why Kids Learn More by Choosing
When a child picks "keep playing and forget about him" and then sees Cat walk away, the feeling lands in a way a lecture never could. The game is built around those small consequences, so children connect a choice to its result on their own.
Short, guided stories like this give kids a safe place to practice the social moments they meet every day at recess, at birthday parties, and in the lunchroom.
For Parents and Teachers
The game takes about five minutes and needs no setup. It works well for:
• A quick talk at home about a friend who felt left out • Morning meeting or circle time in the classroom • Counseling and social skills groups • Helping a child get ready for a new group or a new school
After you play, ask your child which choice felt best and why. Talking it through is where most of the learning happens.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is made for children ages 5-10 (kindergarten through 4th grade). The story and the choices use simple language that early elementary kids can follow on their own or with a grown-up.
About five minutes. It is short on purpose, so it fits into a car ride, a bedtime chat, or a few minutes of circle time.
It focuses on including others, empathy, and repair. Kids practice noticing someone who feels left out, bringing them into the group, and fixing a moment after feelings get hurt.
Start by naming the feeling out loud so your child knows it is normal and okay to talk about. Then play through the game together and talk about the choices. Seeing the story from both sides, the one playing and the one waiting, helps a child build words for what they feel and ideas for what to do next time.
For ages 5-7 we suggest playing together the first time so you can talk about each choice. Kids 8 and up can play on their own, though a quick chat afterward helps the lesson stick.
Yes. No sign-up, no download, no cost. We think every child should be able to practice these skills.