Making the Best of It

Child development / Drama games / Making the best of it

Making the Best of It is a creative drama game where children turn challenging situations into positive outcomes.

By acting out problems and imagining solutions, they practise optimism, problem-solving and imaginative thinking.

How to play

1. Form groups

Put the children into small groups and explain that each group will act out a problem situation.

2. Explain the goal

Tell them that although the situation starts as a problem, they must create their own ending, which should be positive.

3. Give a scenario

Provide each group with a scenario, for example:

Your car breaks down on the way to school, but you get lots of fresh air and exercise.
You drop your bag of sweets, but your teeth are very grateful.
It is your first day at school and you don't know anyone, but you imagine all the new friends you will meet.

4. Prepare the scene

Give the groups time to discuss and plan a short scene.

5. Perform and reflect

Invite each group to share their scene with the class and briefly reflect on how the problem was turned into a positive outcome.

What it teaches

Positive thinking
Resilience
Creativity
Teamwork
Problem-solving

Variations to try

Let children invent their own problem situations.
Add a time limit for creating the scene.
Ask groups to perform without words, using only movement.

Principal's notes

This reflective exercise helps children practise seeing challenges from a different perspective. By turning problems into positive outcomes, they build emotional resilience and learn that their mindset can shape how they respond to everyday situations.

Lucy Quick, Principal of Perform.