Universal · Kids
Social Skills Worksheet for Kids
Friendly body, friendly voice — and scripts for when it gets hard
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
- 1Demo the friendly body
Show the child the friendly-body posture, then the not-friendly version. Most kids learn it best by watching.
- 2Practice the starters out loud
Conversation scripts only work if they've come out of the mouth at least once before the real moment.
- 3Role-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.
- 4Pick one tiny weekly goal
Not 'make a friend.' 'Say hi to one specific person on Monday.' Small enough to do, specific enough to check.
- 5Debrief 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.
Related worksheets
Worksheet — Social Skills Worksheet for Kids — provided by TherapistAssist for clinical use. Not a substitute for assessment or treatment.