What Do I Do? Growing Confident — 25 Printable Fold-and-Reveal Social Situation Flip Cards, Easy to Medium

Introduction

The What Do I Do? Social Situation Fold-and-Reveal Cards PDF offers a unique, interactive way for children to practice responding to real-life social scenarios with friends, feelings, and classroom challenges. This 24-page digital resource features 25 foldable cards, each presenting a photo-based situation and a single guiding question. Children are encouraged to think, say, or show their own idea first before unfolding the card to reveal one good way, making their response the priority and comparison a gentle learning step.

Skills like thinking before acting, generating a plan, and comparing two ideas are woven throughout the activities, supporting growth in social problem-solving. Children also practice asking for help in different ways, handling jealousy and frustration, comforting others, and showing gratitude. Each card gently guides learners to approach everyday situations with confidence and empathy, building skills that transfer into real-life interactions.

Ideal for home, classroom, and therapy settings, these cards support children who may need extra time to process social moments, including those with speech delay or autism. The fold-and-reveal method encourages participation and reflection, while the variety of situations ensures relevance across group activities, one-on-one sessions, and independent practice.

Product Details

• Resource Name: What Do I Do? Social Situation Fold-and-Reveal Cards PDF
• Format: Printable and screen-ready PDF
• Total Pages: 24
• Grade Level: Elementary (ages 6–11)
• Designed For: Social skills practice, speech therapy, special education, AAC users
• Printing Notes: Print single- or double-sided, cut and fold for hands-on use; screen-friendly for digital play
• Best Used In: Home, classroom, therapy sessions
• Sets: 25 fold-and-reveal situation cards, 1 make-your-own card
• Visuals / Illustrations: Real-life photos on every card, labeled sample card, and thumbnail previews

Educational Benefits

1. Strengthens Social Problem-Solving Skills

• Children practice thinking through real-life situations before seeing suggested solutions.
• They learn to generate their own ideas and compare them to positive examples.
• This method supports independent decision-making in social settings.

2. Enhances Emotional Regulation and Coping

• Cards address big feelings like jealousy, frustration, and feeling left out.
• Learners explore ways to handle emotions constructively and calmly.
• The resource helps children recognize and manage their own emotional responses.

3. Builds Communication and Self-Expression

• Children are encouraged to say, show, or use AAC to share their ideas first.
• This supports expressive language, confidence, and alternative communication.
• The primary_keyword helps all children participate, regardless of speech ability.

4. Fosters Group Interaction and Cooperation

• Activities include scenarios about getting along, group disagreements, and teamwork.
• Children practice listening, taking turns, and respecting different perspectives.
• Comparing ideas encourages respectful discussion and collaboration.

5. Supports Flexible Thinking and Adaptability

• Each situation card offers more than one possible good way to respond.
• Children learn there are multiple solutions to social challenges.
• Comparing their idea with the card's reveal builds flexible thinking.

Instructions for Use

Step 1: Print and Prepare the Cards

• Download the PDF and print on A4 or Letter-sized paper for best results.
• Cut along the guidelines and fold each card in half as indicated.
• Laminate for durability if using frequently or with groups.

Step 2: Introduce the Situation Deck

• Show the labeled sample card and explain how each card works.
• Discuss the five types of situations included in the deck.
• Use visual previews to build familiarity and interest.

Step 3: Present a Situation Card

• Select a card and display the photo/question side only.
• Read the scenario aloud or let the child view and interpret it.
• Encourage the child to think before acting as they consider their response.

Step 4: Encourage the Child's Response

• Invite the child to say, show, or use AAC to share their idea.
• Allow time for independent thinking or group discussion.
• Prompt with "What would you do?" if needed.

Step 5: Reveal and Compare Solutions

• Unfold the card to show one good way with its photo.
• Compare the child's idea to the revealed solution without judgment.
• Discuss similarities, differences, and why both ideas might work.

Step 6: Extend and Reinforce Learning

• Use the Two Good Ways page for additional solution options.
• Try role-playing, group games, or the make-your-own card for extra practice.
• Encourage children to apply these strategies in real-life situations.

Activities Using the Resource

1. Social Situation Card Discussion Game

Objective: To practice thinking before acting in real-life social situations using the What Do I Do? Social Situation Fold-and-Reveal Cards PDF.

How to Play:

• Present a folded card showing only the photo and question (e.g., "What do you do when a friend has something you really want?").
• Let the child say, show, or use AAC to share their idea before unfolding.
• Reveal the suggested good way and discuss how it compares to their response.

Skill Development:

• Builds independent social problem-solving.
• Strengthens expressive communication, including AAC.
• Encourages flexible thinking and self-reflection.

2. Feelings and Reactions Sorting Activity

Objective: To identify and sort different feelings and match them to appropriate responses.

How to Play:

• Select cards from the Big Feelings set (e.g., feeling shy, frustrated).
• Ask the child to name the feeling and describe a possible reaction.
• Unfold the card to compare their idea with the suggested response.

Skill Development:

• Improves emotional recognition and labeling.
• Enhances coping strategy selection.
• Supports discussion of healthy emotional responses.

3. Kindness Chain Role-Play

Objective: To practice showing kindness in various social scenarios.

How to Play:

• Choose a Being Kind card (e.g., a friend's bad day).
• Role-play the situation with the child, switching roles after each round.
• Reveal the card's good way and try acting out both solutions.

Skill Development:

• Develops empathy and perspective-taking.
• Reinforces prosocial behaviors.
• Increases confidence in group interactions.

4. Group Problem-Solving Circle

Objective: To encourage teamwork and group cooperation using classroom or friendship scenarios.

How to Play:

• In a small group, present a Getting Along card (e.g., disagreeing in a group).
• Each child shares their idea for solving the problem.
• Reveal the card's solution and discuss similarities and differences as a group.

Skill Development:

• Fosters respectful listening and turn-taking.
• Promotes collaborative decision-making.
• Builds group discussion skills.

5. Make-Your-Own Social Situation Card

Objective: To empower children to create and solve their own social scenarios.

How to Play:

• Give the blank make-your-own card included in the PDF.
• Have the child draw or describe a social situation they've experienced.
• Work together to write a question and brainstorm one or two good ways to respond.

Skill Development:

• Encourages self-expression and creativity.
• Strengthens real-life problem-solving.
• Builds ownership of social learning.

6. Everyday Carryover Challenge

Objective: To apply strategies from the What Do I Do? Social Situation Fold-and-Reveal Cards PDF to daily routines.

How to Play:

• Choose a scenario from the deck that matches a real-life moment (e.g., tidy-up time).
• Prompt the child to use a solution from the card during the actual event.
• Reflect together afterward on how it went and what they might try next time.

Skill Development:

• Supports generalization of social skills.
• Reinforces thinking before acting in natural settings.
• Promotes self-monitoring and adaptability.

Conclusion

The What Do I Do? Social Situation Fold-and-Reveal Cards PDF empowers children to build real-world social skills through hands-on, reflective practice. Designed for elementary-aged learners, it supports those who benefit from extra time and visual cues, including children with speech delays or who use AAC. Each card encourages children to think for themselves first, making every response valued and every learning moment meaningful.

By focusing on generating a plan and comparing solutions, this resource helps children grow in confidence across home, classroom, and therapy settings. Skills like asking for help and handling frustration are woven into relatable scenarios, while the gentle, non-corrective approach fosters self-expression and positive self-esteem.

Download the What Do I Do? Social Situation Fold-and-Reveal Cards PDF today and give your child or students a supportive way to practice social thinking, kindness, and flexible problem-solving in everyday life.