Act like you are a stubborn 5-year-old
Role-play being a stubborn five-year-old with a partner to practice empathy, communication, and problem-solving through guided scenarios and respectful negotiation.
About this activity
Role-play being a stubborn five-year-old with a partner to practice empathy, communication, and problem-solving through guided scenarios and respectful negotiation.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Find a partner.
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Step 2
Sit facing each other in a comfy space.
- 3
Step 3
Decide who will be the stubborn five-year-old first.
- 4
Step 4
Use the paper and pen to write or draw three short scenario cards.
- 5
Step 5
Fold each scenario card and place them into a small pile.
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Step 6
Set the timer for 2 minutes.
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Step 7
The helper draws one scenario card and reads it aloud.
- 8
Step 8
Start the timer.
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Step 9
The child playing the stubborn five-year-old acts stubborn until the timer stops.
- 10
Step 10
When the timer rings the helper says one sentence that shows empathy (for example "I see you are upset because...").
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Step 11
The helper offers one calm solution idea for the problem.
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Step 12
The stubborn child says yes or no to the helper's idea.
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Step 13
Switch roles and repeat steps 6 to 12 until each person has been the stubborn child twice.
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Step 14
Share your finished creation on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do I run the 'stubborn five-year-old' role-play activity?
Start by explaining the goal: practice empathy and negotiation. Pair children and assign one to be the 'stubborn five-year-old' and the other the caregiver or peer. Give a simple scenario (bedtime, toy sharing, getting dressed). Set clear rules: no yelling, use safe words, and time limits (2–3 minutes). Adults model responses, pause to coach, then swap roles. Finish with a short debrief asking what feelings and solutions each person noticed.
What materials do I need for the stubborn five-year-old role-play?
You only need a few items: simple scenario cards or prompts, a timer or stopwatch, optional props (stuffed animals, blankets, hats), emotion cards or faces, paper and pencil for notes, and a calm space. An adult facilitator and a checklist of safety rules are helpful. Many households can run this activity with no special materials—improv and clear prompts are enough.
What ages is this role-play activity suitable for?
This activity is best for children aged about 4–8 years who can take simple roles and follow basic rules. Younger 3-year-olds may join with adult support and shorter sessions; older children (9–11) can handle more complex scenarios and negotiation tactics. Adapt language, time limits, and challenge level to each child’s attention span and emotional readiness. Siblings of mixed ages can participate if roles and supervision are adjusted.
What are the benefits of playing the stubborn five-year-old?
Role-playing a stubborn five-year-old builds empathy, perspective-taking, and communication skills. Children practice naming feelings, negotiating respectful solutions, and managing frustration. Adults gain insight into a child's needs and can coach calming strategies. Repeated practice strengthens problem-solving, confidence, and conflict-resolution habits useful at home and school. Keep sessions short and supportive so children associate negotiating with positive outcomes.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use instead of paper, a pen, or the timer if we can't find them?
Use sticky notes, index cards, or a phone/tablet drawing or notes app to make the three scenario cards from step 4, and use a phone timer, kitchen egg timer, or sing a 2-minute song to time the acting in step 8.
What should we do if the stubborn child won't stay in character or the timer keeps getting interrupted?
If the child won't stay in role during step 9, have the helper model a short 20–30 second example from step 8, shorten the timer to 30–60 seconds, or give simple sentence prompts taken from the scenario card to guide the acting.
How can we adapt the activity for younger children or older kids?
For younger children, draw picture-only scenario cards in step 4, sit closer and use a 30–60 second timer for step 8 with a parent helper, and for older kids increase the timer to 3–4 minutes, write more complex scenarios in step 4, and ask the helper to offer two calm solution ideas after the empathy sentence in step 10.
How can we make the activity more fun or shareable?
Personalize and extend the activity by decorating and folding the scenario cards from step 5, adding simple props or costumes for the stubborn role in step 9, keeping a yes/no tally after each round to discuss outcomes, and recording a favorite round to share as your finished creation on DIY.org.