Initiating Social Skills (School)

School Social Skills is a three-part series covering the essential social skills needed in a school setting. The series covers Personal, Initiating, and Responding Social Skills. Initiating Social Skills covers initiating conversation skills such as Ask Permission, Greet Others/Start Conversations/Give Help, Introduce Self, Introduce Others, Ask for Help/Assistance/Feedback, Give Directions, Join Others in Group, Apologize/Excuse Self, Give a Compliment, and Make a Complaint.

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Ask Permission

  • Know whom to ask
  • Decide if you need to ask permission
  • Know when to ask
  • Use nice tone of voice
  • Accept the answer

Greet Others/Start Conversations/Give Help

  • Make eye contact
  • Stand the correct distance apart
  • Greet others
  • Ask questions
  • Make comments
  • Give help

Introduce Self

  • Choose the correct time
  • Make eye contact
  • Stand the correct distance apart
  • Greet others
  • Tell your name
  • Ask questions
  • Give information

Introduce Others

  • Decide if you should introduce others
  • Choose the correct time
  • Make eye contact
  • Introduce others
  • Make conversation
Ask for Help/Assistance/Feedback

  • Choose the correct time
  • Stand the correct distance apart
  • Make eye contact
  • Ask for help
  • Ask for feedback

Give Directions

  • Look at the person
  • Stand the correct distance apart
  • Speak clearly
  • Ask questions to clarify
  • Go over the steps
  • Do the work

Join Others in Groups

  • Decide if you want to join in
  • Decide on how to join in
  • Decide on the correct time to join in
  • Talk to others in the group
  • Ask if you can join in
  • Join in and do the activities
Apologize/Excuse Self

  • Be aware of a mistake
  • Think over what to say
  • Choose how to say it
  • Choose the person to apologize to
  • Choose where to say it
  • Make the apology
  • Try not to do it again

Give a Compliment

  • Choose the reason for the compliment
  • Choose the person you want to compliment
  • Choose how to give the compliment
  • Choose the correct time and place

Make a Complaint

  • Notice a problem
  • Choose if it is worth saying something
  • Choose to whom to complain
  • Be clear
  • Be calm
  • Put yourself in their shoes
  • Keep to the point
  • Look at the behavior
  • Don’t attack the person
  • Thank the person for listening