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Social Skills Worksheets

FREE download of Social Skills Guide below

The link to your free Social Skills Worksheets is at the bottom of this page. The individual skills for the fifteen different areas are listed on this web page.

Download social skills checklist below

How to Use the Social Skills Worksheets

Read all the social skills worksheets. Put a mark to the left of any which your student has mastered. It is time to move to the skills listed below that skill.

Put a circle to the right of any listed skill that your student currently participates in.

Review all the 15 social skill worksheets with your student and identify strengths and weaknesses. Considering the social skills pyramid, do you need more base exposures, peak skills, or in between?

Set goals for one area on the social skills list.

Put a tally mark to the right of any listed skill they currently participate in.

Focus on areas that require social skill improvement. Review the list and set new goals every 4 to 12 weeks.

It is common to have only three or four goals social goals at a given time. These few goals are usually in different areas (the 15 areas are listed below.)

This list can be used as a social skills rubric to be used over time.

General Social Skills

These are general social skills everyone should master. Note that this social skill worksheet starts with very basic skills that we begin working on in the preschool years. The bottom of the list contains more advanced social skills for adults. Keep in mind that this is a long term process.

Takes turns
Shares
Follows directions
Does not interrupt
Introduces himself/herself
Communicates clearly
Listens to others who are talking
Starts conversations with strangers
Avoids monopolizing conversations or boring others
Recognizes/responds to others body language
Willingly maintains conversations about other peoples' interests
Can share one's own interests enthusiastically

Each of these social skills worksheets for kids are provided as downloads individually, or at the bottom of the page for a download of all.

It will take several years for a young person to develop all these skills; and some do it more naturally than others.

Poor Conversation Skills
We have all probably had the displeasure of trying to start a conversation with a young person who would not do more than answer with single words and shrugs of the shoulder. If you notice your child often gives partial or negative answers when someone asks about their interests, plans, or favorite school subject, it signals a need for instruction on conversation skills.

Certainly we don't expect every young person to know what they want to be when they grow up, or to like studying. However, failure to be able to talk to someone who shows interest in them indicates a negative and uncooperative attitude. Even for a non-academically inclined student, there is a better response than shrugging their shoulders, or grunting "nothing," when queried about their favorite subjects.

Consider, for example, the following response: "Well, if racecars were a school subject, THAT would be my favorite." This tells the other individual far more about the young person, and satisfies the request in a more socially mature way.

Communication and Technology

Every since Alexander Graham Bell made his famous first call, communication systems have changed our daily lives. Using this technology correctly is part of modern socialization.

Answers the phone
Uses polite phone manners
Takes correct messages
Makes personal phone calls
Recognizes appropriate use of cell phones
Makes business phone calls
Uses email
Manages email communications
Uses the internet for gaining information
Uses the internet for commercial purposes
Recognizes dangers of internet use
Uses the internet for financial and business purposes

Hobbies and Personal Interests

Develops own interests
Gathers information about her/his interests
Maintains own personal space, property, equipment neatly
Develops skills related to personal interests
Participates with others of like interests

We all have our own favorite interests; and some more easily lead to increased social interactions.

For instance, if your child is interested in guitar or football, he or she will likely find plenty of like-minded individuals in your community.

If, on the other hand, their interest is collecting old-fashioned paper dolls they might have a little more difficulty finding a local niche to join.

However, if collecting paper dolls is their interest, that is what an individual should be encouraged to develop. In spite of what the nay-sayers might warn, even us old-fashioned-paperdoll-lovers DO fit into society.

The purpose of these social skills worksheets is to assist each individual to mature as a unique and self-directed individual.

Sports & Athletics

This might seem like it should fit into the category above, but I have included it separately for two reasons.

First, as stated above, those with less popular interests should feel free to develop them rather than be forced into the mold of society which generally esteems team sports over other areas of interest.

(If you wish to contradict me on this, I would merely ask you to look at the budget of your local middle schools and high schools to see what other hobbies or interests come even close. Oh, and by the way, when was the last time the evening news showed the winner of the high school art contest?)

Let's face it, sports is where it is at. No, please don't pressure your non-athletic child to join team sports if they don't like it.

However, as the Social Skills Pyramid demonstrates, we all need a few areas of expertise and a lot of areas of exposure. A non-athletic person should be encouraged to develop their interests to the peak level, but at least have a base exposure to sports - given its affluence in our society. Athletes who develop team sports as their peak skills also need multiple base exposures. However I think it would probably be more helpful for the collector to watch a few sporting events than for a football player to look at my vintage paperdolls collection.

Second, even if an individual is not athletic, we as a society are way too sedentary and over-weight. We need to encourage our students to be physically active. That does not require team sports, but it does require developing a personal interest in some form of physical activity to exercise the cardio-vascular system.

Individual athletic skills
Team sports
Watch sporting events
Practice athletic abilities
Display good sportsmanship

Group Activities

This set may over-lap with one of the previous two social skills worksheets. If, however, your student prefers solo hobbies and individual sports, participation in another type of club or group may be desirable.

Interacts positiviely in a group setting
Does his/her part to help the group complete a goal or project
Leads a group activity
Speaks to groups of different sizes
Is a group leader

Grooming and Hygiene

You may see a distinct difference in the weaknesses common for males and females. Most kids will get to a point where it is important to be presentable (to their peers, at least.) But before that time, mothers often wonder if their child will ever brush their teeth, keep their nails clean, and generally be presentable.

Dresses self appropriately
Brushes teeth and maintains fresh breath
Bathes regularly
Always washes hands after using bathroom
Fingernails kept clean and neat
Clothes and hair are neat
Uses deodorant and avoids body odor
Dresses appropriately for a variety of occasions

Community Events

The social skills worksheet for Community Events include the following: fairs/festivals, local attractions, tours, sporting events, swimming pools, parks, contests, rallies, concerts, plays, grand opening, parties, etc.

Attends community events
Participates in community events
Volunteers in community events
Works on a planning committee
Organizes/leads a community event

Culture and News

This is one of the most important social skills worksheets for high school; since it transcends popular culture and evaluates all cultures (including one's own.)

Assess positive and negative messages of celebrities
Assess positive and negative messages of popular TV shows, movies, books
Recognizes significance of current events
Interacts with those from other cultures
Assesses impact of culture on one's own personal choices
Recognizes issues in political campaigns
Evaluates international events

Time Management

Stays on task until something is finished
Arrives on time consistently
Maintains one's own calendar
Schedules own doctor appointments and other appointments

Consider the message in these two statements I over-heard two different mothers of teenagers say:

"At his age, I refuse to keep track of his schedule. He is old enough to be responsible for his own activities."

"Please give the information to him. He's been keeping his own calendar for several years."

Both mothers want their student to manage their time. It is no coincidence that the second mother who responded more positively is also the mother who took the time to teach how to manage a calendar.

Food

Here's a subject you can't live without! And speaking of socialization, the first few items on this list can really negatively impact a child who does NOT have those habits.

Doesn't talk with food in mouth
Good table manners
Can prepare own meals
Cooks/bakes to share with others
Orders at restaurants
Grocery shops - picks up a few items
Hosts a meal or picnic for company
Grocery shops - weekly shopping

Finances and Commerce

Like all of the other lists here, this social skills worksheet could be made much more detailed. Unlike many of the other areas, however, this one should be fully mastered by every young adult ready to leave their parents' home.

Saves money for a desired purchase
Compare prices when selecting a purchase
Repeat the above for various large and small purchases.
Develops a budget
Requests product information from stores/companies
Discusses danger of credit cards
Maintains checking account
Establishes a long-term savings plan

Transportation

This is another social skills worksheet that should be mastered before high school is complete. Get into the habit of having your grade school child act as navigator when going someplace new. During the early elementary years your kids can find the correct gate at an airport, even though it is faster for you to find it yourself.

Can give directions to one's house
Knows local landmarks
Asks directions
Can use maps and directions to find their way to a new destination
Uses public transportation
Finds way around airport/bus station
Arranges travel plans/purchases tickets

Conflicts

Sadly, conflicts are a fact of life. I just read an article written by a mother who did not want to homeschool so her child would have the opportunity to learn how to settle conflicts in the real world. (In this case the real world is public school. Which makes your home - what?)

Hate to be the one to break the bad news, but homeschoolers have conflicts too - at home and away. Those of you who teach this social skills worksheet will have kids far ahead of that mother who is sending her child to school for the value of learning to resolve conflicts there.

Avoids disputes when possible
Able to apologize when wrong
Forgives when wronged
Avoids gossip/dispels those who start
Understands others' point of view
Uses diplomacy in tense situations
Recognizes when to alert authorities and when to let things go
Recognizes when to continue diplomacy and when to extricate themselves from a situation

Volunteering

One study a number of years ago found that 100% of the adult homeschool graduates they surveyed volunteered in one capacity or another. This is probably the least needed social skills worksheet for this population. However, it is included here to make sure you are giving credit where it is due and encouragement where it is needed in this department as well.

Volunteers in small group (clubs, Sunday schools etc.)
Fund raising for charitable organizations
Volunteers to help the needy
Participates in social causes

Career Foundation

The final and ultimate social skills worksheet! The research mentioned above not only found 100% volunteering; but 0% unemployment among homeschool graduates.

Seeks information on jobs/careers
Arranges personal references
Completes application
Develops resume
Interviews/improves interviewing skills
Develops career goals and track
Continues to develop more specialized resume

Social Skills Worksheets Guide

Here is your FREE DOWNLOAD to the social skills worksheets/checklist. It is a seventeen page download so your students can track their own progress towards social maturity.