Abstract:  
The need in social intelligence emerges when there is clash of interests and a work-around solution is required for successful interaction. Obstacles towards achieving the goal motivates a person to look for unconventional solutions to a communication problem. Matrix of a new social intelligence test among preschoolers and elementary schoolers is proposed. The advantage of this test over the traditionally used picture-based surveys is that it does not require a developed symbolic function. As a prototype of the simulated communication situation, the author used a situation of uncertainty in achieving the goal, clash of interests of the characters, and more than one scenario of finding a work-around solution for reaching a desirable result. These requirements were met by the attempt to rob the armored truck by a criminal who was able to eavesdrop on the conversation between the driver and the dispatcher to determine which of the simultaneously traveling trucks carried the money. The driver had to report to the dispatcher in a way that would be understood by the dispatcher, but not the criminal. Unlike the earlier methods of assessment of social intelligence, the proposed play-based is built upon realistic simulation that can be understood by children aged 6-12. This simulation allows for careful assessment of social intelligence of children involved into a captivating game of finding optimal behavioral strategy in a situation where they have to communication with a partner, while encrypting the information for other people, but without outright lying.