Table of Contents
Introduction 8
Part 1 Laying the Groundwork 11
Chapter 1 Social Skills 101 12
What Are Social Skills? 12
The Benefits of Strong Social Skills 12
When Do Social Skills Develop? 13
How Kids Develop Social Skills 17
How to Provide Gentle Guidance for Skill Development 20
General Tips for Helping Kids 22
Part 2 Activities 25
Chapter 2 Let's chat! Communication skills 26
What Is Communication? 26
What Does Communication Look and Sound Like? 26
Communication in Kid-Friendly Terms 27
Why Communication Skills Are Important 27
Where and When Kids Will Use Communication Skills 27
Looking Ahead 27
Baby Talk 28
Chitchat 29
Book Talk 30
Volume Hopscotch 31
I Feel, I Need 32
Can You Hear Me Now? 34
Secret Object 36
Telephone Circle 37
Would You Rather 38
Sneak Peek 40
Feelings Charades 42
Mouse, Owl, Bear 43
Talking Emojis 45
Silent Lines 46
Partner Maze 47
The Numbers Game 48
Listening Origami 50
Chapter 3 Listen up! Active-listening skills 52
What is Active Listening? 52
What Does Active Listening Look and Sound Like? 52
Active Listening in Kid-Friendly Terms 52
Why Active-Listening Skills Are Important 53
Where and When Kids Will Use Active-Listening Skills 53
Looking Ahead 53
Model Listener 54
One-Step Directions 55
Listen Up, Line Chef! 56
Movement Code Word 58
Show-and-Tell 60
Lily Pad Tunes 61
Ears, Actions 62
Ears, Brains, Actions 63
Top Ten 64
Building Blocks 65
Stomp, Stomp, Wink 67
I Tell, You Tell 68
Finish the Line 69
Toss a Favorite 70
Left-Right Pass 71
Back-to-Back Directed Drawing 73
Chapter 4 We're All in this Together! Cooperation Skills 75
What Is Cooperation? 75
What Does Cooperation Look and Sound Like? 75
Cooperation in Kid-Friendly Terms 75
Why Cooperation Skills Are Important 76
Where and When Kids Will Use Cooperation Skills 76
Looking Ahead 76
Construction Crew 77
Row Your Boat 78
You Pick, I Pick 79
Lifeboat Ride 80
City Planning 81
Partner Yoga 83
Space Race 85
Balloon Circle 86
Letter Body 87
Team Limbo 88
Fingertip Hula-Hoop 89
Three-Legged Race 90
Obstacle Course 91
Partner Progress 92
STEM Challenge 93
Partner Storybook 94
Cross the River 95
Chapter 4 Stepping Up! Responsibility Skills 96
What Is Responsibility? 96
What Does Responsibility Look and Sound Like? 96
Responsibility in Kid-Friendly Terms 96
Why Responsibility Skills Are Important 97
Where and When Kids Will Use Responsibility Skills 97
Looking Ahead 97
Family Expectations 98
Responsibility Tracker 100
Laundry Sort 101
Toy Relay 102
Chore Challenge 104
Garden Green Thumb 106
Pet Spa 107
City Street 108
Eggcellent Responsibility 109
Assembly Line 110
Helping Hands 112
Time Tracker 113
Needs Drive 114
Adopt a Neighbor 115
Super Savers 116
Restaurant Roundup 117
Balls in the Air 118
Pride Project 119
Chapter 6 I Hear You! Empathy Skills 120
What Is Empathy? 120
What Does Empathy Look and Sound Like? 120
Empathy in Kid-Friendly Terms 120
Why Empathy Skills Are Important 121
Where and When Kids Will Use Empathy Skills 121
Looking Ahead 121
Extra Emoting 122
Pretend Parenting 123
Family Circle 124
Predicting Characters' Feelings 125
Mirror Storytelling 127
Movie Night Investigation 128
Community Cleanup 129
Family Resolutions 131
Pet Spotlight 132
Emoji Complete the Scene 133
Be the Lamp 134
Perspective Detectives 135
Classmate Clues 136
Grandparent Interview 137
In Their Shoes 139
Park People Watching 140
Empathy Map 141
Switch Sides Debate 142
Chapter 7 Join the Fun! Engagement Skills 143
What Is Engagement? 143
What Does Engagement Look and Sound Like? 143
Engagement in Kid-Friendly Terms 144
Why Engagement Skills Are Important 144
Where and When Kids Will Use Engagement Skills 144
Looking Ahead 144
All Aboard 145
Break in the Game 146
Common Ground 148
Weave a Web 149
Conversation Circle 150
Same, Same, Different 152
Chapter 7 Driver's Seat! Self-Control Skills 153
What Is Self-Control? 153
What Does Self-Control Look and Sound Like? 153
Self-Control in Kid-Friendly Terms 153
Why Self-Control Skills Are Important 154
Where and When Kids Will Use Self-Control Skills 154
Looking Ahead 154
Garage Band 155
Freeze Dance 157
Clap Pattern 158
Calming Yoga Sequence 159
Balloon Tap 161
Freeze Tag 162
Louder, Quieter 163
Simon Says 164
Mirror, Mirror 165
Buckingham Palace 166
Five-Count Trivia 167
May I Please…? 168
Ready, Set, Dance 169
Balloon Volleyball 170
Bumper Car Cleanup 171
Chapter 9 Keep Your Cool! Emotion-Regulation Skills 173
What Is Emotion Regulation? 173
What Does Emotion Regulation Look and Sound Like? 173
Emotion Regulation in Kid-Friendly Terms 174
Why Emotion-Regulation Skills Are Important 175
Where and When Kids Will Use Emotion-Regulation Skills 175
Looking Ahead 175
Responsive Regulation 176
Regulating Routines 178
Calm Space 179
Name the Feeling 180
Controlled Breathing 181
Bubble Breathing 182
Buddy Breathing 183
Stuffed-Animal Breathing 184
Dragon Breathing 185
Tap, Tap, Squeeze 186
Energy Release 187
Rest Stop 188
Body Scan 189
Progressive Muscle Relaxation 191
Kite, Tree, Frog 193
Mindful Meditation 195
Create Your Own Mantras 198
Sensory Grounding 199
Let It Go 201
Chapter 10 Thinking Cap On! Problem-Solving Skills 202
What Is Problem-Solving? 202
What Does Problem-Solving Look and Sound Like? 202
Problem-Solving in Kid-Friendly Terms 202
Why Problem-Solving Skills Are Important 203
Where and When Kids Will Use Problem-Solving Skills 203
Looking Ahead 203
Missing Item 204
Push It 205
Friendly Fort 206
The Floor Is Lava 207
Make Your Own Game 208
Invention Convention 210
Balancing Act 212
Paper Airplane 213
Spaghetti Skyscraper 214
Flexible Drawing 215
Animal Transport 216
Infomercial 217
Creative Storytelling 218
Cooperative Balloon Tower 220
Find the Leader 222
Flip It 223
Story Switch Up 224
Chapter 11 You Matter Too! Respect Skills 225
What Is Respect? 225
What Does Respect Look and Sound Like? 225
Respect in Kid-Friendly Terms 225
Why Respect Skills Are Important 226
Where and When Kids Will Use Respect Skills 226
Looking Ahead 226
Red Light, Green Light 227
Family Puzzle 229
Respect Bingo 230
Compliment Circle 232
Finding Respect on the Screen 233
Respect Detectives 235
Golden Rule 236
Compliment Poetry 237
Call Etiquette 238
In or Out of Bounds 240
Recipe for Respect 243
Part 3 Practical Application 245
Chapter 12 Incorporating Skills into Everyday Life 246
Daily Ways to Apply Social Skills 246
Final Thoughts 252
Index 253
