What Would You Do Scenario Cards
Draw scenario cards and discuss what to do in common social situations — building problem-solving skills and social awareness.
What You'll Need
- 1Index cards or cardstock
- 2Markers or crayons for illustrations
- 3Container for cards
What You'll Need
Index cards or cardstock (10-15 cards)
Markers or crayons for simple illustrations
A container to hold the card deck
How to Play
Write simple social scenarios on cards. Examples: "A friend takes your toy," "Someone is sitting alone at lunch," "Your friend falls and cries."
Shuffle and place face-down in a pile.
Your child draws the first card. Read it together.
Ask: "What would you do?" and listen to their answer without correcting.
Explore options: "That's a great idea! Can you think of another way to handle it?"
Role-play the scenario together using your child's suggested solution.
Keep drawing cards, taking turns sharing ideas. There are no wrong answers.
Why It Works
Social situations move fast on the playground. By practicing with cards at home, children can think through responses without the pressure of the moment. Each scenario is a mini rehearsal. When you ask "What would you do?" and accept multiple answers, you're teaching that most social problems have more than one good solution. The role-playing makes it physical and memorable, so when a similar situation happens in real life, they've already practiced.
Tips
Base scenarios on situations your child has actually faced. This makes the practice immediately relevant.
Add silly scenarios too ("What if a dinosaur wanted to play with you?") to keep it light and fun.
Accept all answers first, then gently explore: "That could work! What do you think the other person would feel?"
Keep adding new cards over time. This can become a regular dinner-table game.
Age Adaptation Tips
Preschoolers can follow multi-step instructions. Ask open-ended questions and encourage them to predict what will happen next.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 15 min, with 10 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: index cards or cardstock, markers or crayons for illustrations, container for cards.
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 3-5 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors?
This activity is designed for indoor play, making it perfect for rainy days or when you're staying inside.
How difficult is this activity?
This is an easy activity that requires minimal setup and supervision. Great for busy days or when you need something quick.
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