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Social Skills Worksheet for Kids

Friendly body, friendly voice — and scripts for when it gets hard

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Friendships are a skill — like soccer or piano. The more you practice, the easier they get. This page is your practice sheet.

Friendly body, friendly voice
  • Eyes looking at the person (or their shoulder)
  • Body turned toward them
  • Calm hands
  • Voice not too loud, not too quiet
  • Friendly face
Three ways to start a conversation
A friendly hello + their name
A question about something they like
A 'me too!' or 'tell me more'
When something goes wrong
If I hurt someone's feelings, I will say…
If someone hurts my feelings, I will say…
If I want to join a group already playing, I will…
If I lose at a game, I will…
My friendship goal this week
One small thing I'll try
Who I'll try it with

Practice during calm times

Role-play these scripts at home before the playground moment happens. Rehearsed words come out faster when real feelings are loud.

References & further reading

Conceptual background and further reading, not validation of this handout. Named instruments and methods belong to their original authors; custom prompts and trackers are not validated versions of those instruments.

© 2026 TherapistAssist · For clinical use · Not a substitute for assessment
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About this worksheet

Friendships are a skill — like soccer or piano — and like any skill they need rehearsal. This worksheet is the rehearsal sheet. It opens with friendly body cues (eyes, body turn, calm hands, friendly face) that often go unspoken yet drive most peer impressions. It provides three concrete conversation starters: a hello with the name, a question about something they like, and a 'me too' or 'tell me more.' The hardest social moments get dedicated scripts: repair after hurting someone's feelings, expressing being hurt without escalating, joining a group already playing, and losing a game gracefully. The page closes with a one-week friendship goal — one specific small thing to try, with one specific person. Built for ages 6–11 in social skills groups, SEL curricula, autism-spectrum support, and 1:1 counseling for kids who feel left out. Pair with role-play; rehearsed scripts come out faster when real feelings get loud.

When to use it

  • Ages 6–11 in social skills groups, SEL programs, or 1:1 counseling.
  • Children with ADHD, anxiety, or autism-spectrum profiles who struggle with peer entry.
  • Post-friendship-breakup or post-bullying support.
  • Pair with in-vivo practice — role-play, then real-world try, then debrief.
  • Not a fit when the social difficulty is driven by ongoing bullying; address the bullying first.

How to use it

  1. 1
    Demo the friendly body

    Show the child the friendly-body posture, then the not-friendly version. Most kids learn it best by watching.

  2. 2
    Practice the starters out loud

    Conversation scripts only work if they've come out of the mouth at least once before the real moment.

  3. 3
    Role-play the hard moments

    Adult plays the other kid. Practice the join, the repair, the loss. Make it slightly silly so the rehearsal isn't shame-inducing.

  4. 4
    Pick one tiny weekly goal

    Not 'make a friend.' 'Say hi to one specific person on Monday.' Small enough to do, specific enough to check.

  5. 5
    Debrief without grading

    How did it go is more useful than whether it worked. The point is repetition, not success.

Frequently asked questions

How do you teach social skills to kids?+

Three components: explicit modeling of the behavior, rehearsal in a low-stakes setting (role-play, social stories), and supported real-world practice with debrief. Worksheets like this one provide the scaffolding; the learning happens in the practice.

What age is best for social skills worksheets?+

Ages 6–11. Younger kids do better with picture-based social stories and play-based practice; older tweens often need more nuanced scenarios (group dynamics, online communication, conflict).

Can social skills be taught to kids with autism?+

Yes, though the approach matters — explicit, concrete, video-modeled instruction works better than implicit social learning. This worksheet's friendly-body checklist and scripted phrases align with that approach; consider also evidence-based programs like PEERS.

What if my child doesn't want to use this?+

Treat it as a conversation, not a worksheet. Use the prompts during car rides or walks. The content matters more than the page. For some kids, framing it as 'training for the friendship Olympics' lowers defensiveness.

Is this the same as social-emotional learning (SEL)?+

It's one piece of SEL — the relationship-skills competency. SEL also covers self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and responsible decision-making; this worksheet focuses specifically on the peer-interaction skills.

Worksheet — Social Skills Worksheet for Kids — provided by TherapistAssist for clinical use. Not a substitute for assessment or treatment.