Thinkabara🤝 Social language & feelings
Social language (pragmatics) is how we use words with other people: naming feelings, asking politely, starting a conversation, taking turns and thinking about what others feel. Practice with the situations below.
Tips for parents and teachers
- Name your own feelings out loud: "I feel frustrated because the jar won't open."
- Role-play with toys: ordering at a restaurant, asking to join a game.
- Talk about characters' feelings when you read together.
All questions and answers
Use these to read aloud in the car, at dinner or in a group. Answers are in bold.
How do they feel? (7)
- Mia opens a birthday present. It is the toy she wanted! How does she feel? — 😊 happy / 😢 sad / 😠 angry
- Ben drops his ice cream on the ground. How does he feel? — 😄 excited / 😢 sad / 😴 sleepy
- There is a loud thunderstorm at night. How might a child feel? — 😨 scared / 😋 hungry / 🤩 proud
- Sam's brother knocks down his block tower on purpose. How does Sam feel? — 😠 angry / 😌 calm / 😂 silly
- Ava finishes a hard puzzle all by herself. How does she feel? — 🤩 proud / 😟 worried / 😢 sad
- It is Noah's first day at a new school. He doesn't know anyone. How might he feel? — 😟 nervous / 😡 mad / 🤪 silly
- Nobody will play with Lily at recess. How does she feel? — 😔 lonely / 🤩 excited / 😋 hungry
What should you say? (6)
- You want juice. What is a polite way to ask? — "Juice! Now!" / "May I have some juice, please?" / "Give me that."
- You bump into someone by accident. What do you say? — "Oops, I'm sorry!" / "Move!" / Nothing
- Some kids are playing ball. You want to join. What can you say? — "Can I play too?" / "That's my ball!" / "You're doing it wrong."
- Grandpa gives you a gift. What do you say? — "Thank you, Grandpa!" / "Is that all?" / "I don't like it."
- You meet a new kid in class. How can you start a conversation? — "Hi! I'm Max. What's your name?" / Stare at them / "Go away."
- Your friend is talking. What should you do? — Listen and wait for your turn / Talk louder / Walk away
What are they thinking? (4)
- Zoe keeps looking at the plate of cookies. What is she probably thinking? — "I want a cookie." / "I want to sleep." / "I hate cookies."
- Your friend is yawning while you talk about your favorite book for a long time. What might your friend be thinking? — "Tell me more for an hour!" / "I want to talk about something else." / "I am very hungry."
- Dad grabs his coat and car keys. What is he probably thinking? — "I'm going out." / "Time for a bath." / "Let's go swimming."
- Leo is looking under the bed and the couch. What is he thinking? — "Where is my teddy?" / "I want pizza." / "I am sleepy."
🖨️ Printables
Press Print above to print the task cards and circle-the-answer worksheets below on US Letter paper.
Social situation cards — what would you do or say?
Your friend falls down on the playground. 🛝
You want a turn on the swing. 🛝
Someone took your pencil without asking. ✏️
A new kid sits alone at lunch. 🥪
You don't understand the teacher's directions. 🧑🏫
You lose a game. 🎲
Your friend shows you a drawing. 🎨
You need to use the bathroom in class. 🚻
Someone says "Hi" to you. 👋
You feel angry because your tower fell. 🧱
Your grandma calls on the phone. ☎️
You want to tell a story but your friend is talking. 🗣️
You get a gift you don't like. 🎁
You made a mistake. ✏️
Your friend looks sad. 😢
You want to play a different game. 🎮
How do they feel?
Name: ____________________ Circle the answer.
- 🎁 Mia opens a birthday present. It is the toy she wanted! How does she feel?
😊 happy😢 sad😠 angry - 🍦⬇️ Ben drops his ice cream on the ground. How does he feel?
😄 excited😢 sad😴 sleepy - 🌩️ There is a loud thunderstorm at night. How might a child feel?
😨 scared😋 hungry🤩 proud - 🧱 Sam's brother knocks down his block tower on purpose. How does Sam feel?
😠 angry😌 calm😂 silly - 🏆 Ava finishes a hard puzzle all by herself. How does she feel?
🤩 proud😟 worried😢 sad - 🏫 It is Noah's first day at a new school. He doesn't know anyone. How might he feel?
😟 nervous😡 mad🤪 silly - 🛝 Nobody will play with Lily at recess. How does she feel?
😔 lonely🤩 excited😋 hungry
What should you say?
Name: ____________________ Circle the answer.
- 🧃 You want juice. What is a polite way to ask?
"Juice! Now!""May I have some juice, please?""Give me that." - 💥 You bump into someone by accident. What do you say?
"Oops, I'm sorry!""Move!"Nothing - ⚽ Some kids are playing ball. You want to join. What can you say?
"Can I play too?""That's my ball!""You're doing it wrong." - 🎁 Grandpa gives you a gift. What do you say?
"Thank you, Grandpa!""Is that all?""I don't like it." - 👋 You meet a new kid in class. How can you start a conversation?
"Hi! I'm Max. What's your name?"Stare at them"Go away." - 🗣️ Your friend is talking. What should you do?
Listen and wait for your turnTalk louderWalk away
What are they thinking?
Name: ____________________ Circle the answer.
- 👀🍪 Zoe keeps looking at the plate of cookies. What is she probably thinking?
"I want a cookie.""I want to sleep.""I hate cookies." - 🥱📚 Your friend is yawning while you talk about your favorite book for a long time. What might your friend be thinking?
"Tell me more for an hour!""I want to talk about something else.""I am very hungry." - 🧥❄️ Dad grabs his coat and car keys. What is he probably thinking?
"I'm going out.""Time for a bath.""Let's go swimming." - 🔍🧸 Leo is looking under the bed and the couch. What is he thinking?
"Where is my teddy?""I want pizza.""I am sleepy."
Frequently asked questions
What is social language (pragmatics)?
Pragmatics is how we use language with other people: greetings, requests, taking turns, staying on topic, reading facial expressions and changing how we talk for different listeners.
How can I help my child with social skills at home?
Model and role-play everyday situations, talk about feelings (yours, your child's and characters in books), and practice in small, structured play dates. A speech-language pathologist can help if social communication is hard for your child.
More language activities
Related pages
All speech therapy activitiesLanguage milestones by ageAAC boards