What Can I Say? – For Kids 6-12

My child often knows how they feel but doesn’t know what to say in the moment. This book gives simple examples they can actually remember and use. It has made talking through tricky situations at home so much easier.

I love how practical this book is. It covers things like joining a group, being left out, dealing with bossy friends, and knowing how to say goodbye without it feeling weird. These are the little situations kids deal with every day.

The section on being angry without exploding really stood out to me. Instead of just telling kids to calm down, it gives them healthier words to use when they’re upset. We’ve already practiced a few of the examples together.

My child can be shy in new situations, especially around kids they don’t know. I like that this book shows exactly how to introduce yourself, start a conversation, and join in. It makes social skills feel much less intimidating.

There are so many things adults expect children to just figure out on their own. Making friends, apologizing, asking for help, handling embarrassment—the book actually teaches them how. I honestly wish someone had shown me this when I was younger.

We tell kids to “use their words,” but sometimes they genuinely don’t know which words to use. That’s what I like most about this book. It gives clear, age-appropriate responses instead of vague advice.

The questions and Try It Out sections make this really easy to use with my child. We read through a situation, talk about what they might do, and practice different responses together. It feels natural instead of like a lesson.

School brings so many social situations that kids aren’t always prepared for. This covers making new friends, speaking in groups, handling conflict, and dealing with hard feelings. It’s a really useful resource to go through before those moments happen.