Friendship & Relationship Development

Help guide social learners in some of the most significant learning of their lives

Friendship seems so easy and natural to those who make friends easily—but to those who find it challenging, it’s neither simple, logical, or predictable! All functional relationships—including friendship—require a range of social competencies, such as executive functioning & organizational skills, perspective taking, flexible thinking, understanding feelings & emotions, and many more.

How do we crack open this treasure chest to make the most coveted, yet complex facet of relationship development explicit and accessible to our children, students, and clients who struggle to form gratifying emotional relationships with their peers, colleagues, and others they simply share space with?

The Social Thinking® Methodology teaches clear concepts and strategies that can make the relationship process visible and concrete and unpacks different aspects of relationship development from age four through adulthood.

Explore our broad range of products, online courses, conferences, and free resources for teaching practical concepts, vocabulary, and strategies to help guide social learners in some of the most significant learning of their lives.

The Social Thinking Methodology provides evidence-based strategies to help people of all ages develop their social competencies, flexible thinking & social problem solving and improve: conversation & social connection, executive functioning, friendship & relationship development, perspective taking, self-regulation, and Social Thinking vocabulary.

How to Ask for Help

Why It’s Hard & How We Can Help

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Thoughts & Feelings

#1 in Our Series of 10 Core Concepts

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Is Your Body in the Group?

#4 in Our Series of 10 Core Concepts

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Social Anxiety

Breaking It Down to Build Up Social Competencies

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Browse All Webinars

Ages 4-8

We Thinkers! Volume 1 Social Explorers Deluxe Package

We Thinkers! Volume 1 Social Explorers Deluxe Package Ages: 4-7 Our premier social emotional learning package for children ages 4–7 helps develop foundational social competencies. The multiple award-winning We Thinkers! Volume 1: Social Explorers includes five storybooks and a thorough unit-by-unit curriculum. The storybooks correspond to and support detailed lessons for teaching five evidence-based concepts that establish a common social vocabulary for early learners and are fundamental to all social experiences. These practice-proven materials are designed for both neurotypically developing children and those with social learning differences and/or challenges to strengthen perspective taking, self-awareness, and so much more. The We Thinkers! series is loved around the world by kids, parents, and professionals alike! Learn more

$124.99

We Thinkers! Volume 2 Social Problem Solvers Deluxe Package

We Thinkers! Volume 2 Social Problem Solvers Deluxe Package Ages: 4-7 Building on the core social concepts and vocabulary introduced in We Thinkers! Volume 1: Social Explorers, multiple award-winning Volume 2 provides the structure, curriculum, storybooks, and support materials to teach executive functioning and social problem solving to neurotypical children ages 4–7 in a classroom setting, as well as to Neurodivergent students who might have social emotional learning differences and/or challenges. Includes our groundbreaking Group Collaboration, Play and Problem Solving (GPS) Scale, observation and scoring tools, and related differentiated play activities. Five storybooks introduce five Social Thinking® Vocabulary and concepts: hidden rules and expected and unexpected behavior, smart guess, flexible and stuck thinking, size of the problem, and sharing an imagination. Use only after Volume 1! Learn more

$179.99

Growing Friendships: A Kids’ Guide to Making and Keeping Friends

Growing Friendships: A Kids’ Guide to Making and Keeping Friends Ages: 6 - 9

Friendship is complicated for kids. Children everywhere want to be liked, fit in with a group, and be good at sports—but most kids struggle at times. This practical, research-based friendship guide has plenty of true-to-life examples presented through more than 200 lighthearted cartoons that make learning fun for kids. With this book, children learn strategies to help them build meaningful friendships and navigate the challenges that come up along the way.

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$16.99

Browse Resources for Early Learners

Ages 9-12

Should I? or Shouldn't I? Revised Elementary Edition

Should I? or Shouldn't I? Revised Elementary Edition Ages: 8-11 Motivate students ages 8-11 to explore social expectations and consider how they perceive, interpret, and emotionally respond to others’ actions and reactions. Use the cards to explore and discuss group expectations across a wide variety of social situations. Teachers, clinicians, and parents can gain information about which social concepts might need deeper teaching. This game leads to greater self-awareness and builds upon social competencies when players talk to each other about their shared social expectations! It also makes thinking and talking about social situations fun and allows kids to explore their own thoughts, perspectives, and behavior choices within a safe and consequences-free environment. Learn more

$34.99

Should I? or Shouldn't I? Elementary School Edition Expansion Pack

Should I? or Shouldn't I? Elementary School Edition Expansion Pack Ages: 8-11 Triple your students’ fun and social emotional learning with this expansion pack featuring 200 new prompt cards and 100 new challenge cards that extend play with fresh, age-specific situations and topics. This product is an add-on to the original game Should I or Shouldn’t I? What Would Others Think?™ Elementary Edition for kids ages 8-11. (Game sold separately.) Students love playing this game so much they requested more cards—and we listened! Learn more

$24.99

Should I? or Shouldn't I? Elementary Game + Expansion Pack Bundle

Should I? or Shouldn't I? Elementary Game + Expansion Pack Bundle Ages: 8-11 Make thinking, talking, and learning about the social world fun! Save 10% with this bundle that includes the original game and its 300-card expansion pack. Should I? or Shouldn't I? Revised Elementary School Edition is designed to give children a fun and motivating way to discuss age-relevant issues and their own thoughts, perspectives & choices in a nonjudgmental and safe setting. Players explore how their social interpretations might impact their own actions and reactions, using social situations that elementary-aged students may encounter daily. The Expansion Pack provides 300 additional prompt and challenge cards to keep the play stimulating and prompt deep discussion and learning on perspective taking, self-awareness, and executive functioning. Learn more

$53.99 $59.98

Social Thinking and Me (two-book set)

Social Thinking and Me (two-book set) Ages: 9-12 Our best-selling curriculum for children ages 9-12, The Kids’ Guidebook introduces select Social Thinking Vocabulary through colorful illustrations and easy-to-understand content. This award-winning two-book set provides the teaching tools to break down complex social concepts to make it easier for interventionists to teach and for students to learn. Thinksheets for Social Emotional Learning includes multiple mini-lessons for in-depth exploration of each chapter of The Kids’ Guidebook to help build social learners’ metacognitive awareness and develop practical strategies. Kids enjoy becoming stronger social observers and problem solvers. A natural fit for school, clinic, and home. Learn more

$69.99

Make Social and Emotional Learning Stick—2nd Edition

Make Social and Emotional Learning Stick—2nd Edition Ages: 4-11 Parents and teachers! Here are 185+ user-friendly, adaptable activities, demonstrations, and rehearsal opportunities to support social emotional learning in early learners in diverse social settings—from the dinner table, to the school setting, to the greater community. Using contributions from numerous social learning experts, this handbook helps build social emotional competencies with a focus on consistency, modeling, play, and practice. By making a "social learning diet" part of everyday life, social learners develop verbal and nonverbal language, listening skills, understanding of hidden rules, perspective taking, emotional self-regulation, and more. Learn more

$21.99

Browse Resources for Elementary School

Ages 13-18+

Socially Curious and Curiously Social: A Social Thinking Guidebook for Bright Teens and Young Adults

Socially Curious and Curiously Social: A Social Thinking Guidebook for Bright Teens and Young Adults Ages: 14-22 New edition! All-new language, content, and book cover design featuring artwork by a Neurodivergent artist! Teen and young adult readers give rave reviews of this award-winning “get real” guidebook with anime illustrations that helps social learners sail the stormy seas of dating, texting, lies, and everyday relationships. Targeted social emotional strategies encourage readers to better navigate their social worlds, develop stronger social competencies, and manage social anxiety. Interventionists (parents, caregivers, and professionals) appreciate how it better equips them to explain the Social Thinking® process, helping young adults learn to use metacognitive strategies to navigate to self-regulate within social situations. Use the free Socially Curious Thinking and Reading Guide with the book to enrich the social learning and conversation. Learn more

$29.99

Should I? or Shouldn’t I? What Would Others Think? Revised Edition for Teens

Should I? or Shouldn’t I? What Would Others Think? Revised Edition for Teens Ages: 12-18+ Revised and updated, this popular social learning card game provides the all-new Social Interpretation Scale to motivate teens to explore how they perceive, interpret, and emotionally respond to others’ actions and reactions and discuss group expectations across a wide variety of social situations. The new Teaching Guide and Instructions help interventionists shift students’ focus from discussing how someone behaved to instead learning about the power of one’s own social interpretation within a fun, safe, and consequence-free setting. This revised edition extends teaching the concept of the Social Emotional Chain Reaction (SECR), a Social Thinking® Methodology framework. Learn more

$34.99

Should I? or Shouldn't I? Teen Edition Expansion Pack

Should I? or Shouldn't I? Teen Edition Expansion Pack Ages: 12-18 Double your teens’ fun and social learning with this expansion pack featuring 200 new prompt cards and 100 new challenge cards that extend play with fresh, age-specific social situations and topics—and are useful for play with savvy social learners who have memorized responses to the original cards in the game! This product is an add-on to the original game Should I? or Shouldn’t I? What Would Others Think? Revised Edition for Teens for players ages 12—18. (Game sold separately.) Social learners love playing this game so much they requested more cards—and we listened! Learn more

$24.99

Should I? or Shouldn’t I? Teen Game + Expansion Pack Bundle

Should I? or Shouldn’t I? Teen Game + Expansion Pack Bundle Ages: 12-18+ Save 10% with this bundle of the popular, fun social learning game Should I? or Shouldn’t I? What Would Others Think? Revised Edition for Teens and its add-on Expansion Pack of 300 additional cards. Revised and updated with the all-new Social Interpretation Scale, this game stimulates authentic peer-based discussions on a wide range of teen-friendly and relevant social situations that engage them in thinking and talking about social problem solving for responsible decision making. Shift students’ focus from discussing how someone behaved to instead learning about the power of their own social interpretation within a fun, safe, and consequence-free setting. Learn more

$53.99 $59.98

Social Fortune or Social Fate: A Social Thinking Manga-Style Map for Social Quest Seekers

Social Fortune or Social Fate: A Social Thinking Manga-Style Map for Social Quest Seekers Ages: 10+ Award winning and kid friendly, this graphic novel-style book uses comic strip scenarios to teach about common social and emotional chain reactions. Co-developed, critiqued, and inspired by Neurodivergent tweens and teens, this book represents the 10 social scenarios they most often encountered. Readers will get to see the choices of three characters and the outcome of those choices (social fortune or social fate). Designed to show “both sides of the [choices] coin,” the book allows students to read the book forward or backwards. Readers also get to see how protagonists’ choices are tied to their own thoughts, their actions or reactions, which ultimately impact how they feel. Each scenario includes either an analysis and strategy codes to decipher the characters’ choices or an “autopsy” for a better understanding of what happened and why. Learn more

$27.99

Social Thinking® Thinksheets for Tweens and Teens: Learning to Read in Between the Social Lines, Revised Edition

Social Thinking® Thinksheets for Tweens and Teens: Learning to Read in Between the Social Lines, Revised Edition Ages: 11-18 New updated content and language! Find 130+ pages of practical, kid-friendly ideas and tools for the direct instruction of tweens and teens as they learn to navigate the complex social world. The printable, shareable thinksheets are mini-lessons that progress from basic to advanced social emotional concepts, such as considering others’ perspectives, reading hidden social expectations and body language, dealing with bullies, understanding friendship, and many more. Thinksheets extends the teaching of our books for teens, including award-winning Social Fortune or Social Fate and Socially Curious and Curiously Social. Whether for individual or group instruction, interventionists (professionals and parents) can adapt lessons to benefit virtually all social learners. Learn more

$44.99

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All Ages

Social Thinking® Frameworks Collection | Core Practical Treatment Frameworks Set 1

Social Thinking® Frameworks Collection | Core Practical Treatment Frameworks Set 1 Ages: 4 - adult Set 1 serves two purposes: A. provides interventionists with information to assess the needs of their social learners through 7 conceptual frameworks and B. provides 6 treatment frameworks for use with social emotional learners. Each one of these ready-to-use visual scaffolds displays an important social concept through a user-friendly graphic on one side and step-by-step instructions and resource recommendations on the back. Learn more

$24.99

Social Thinking® Frameworks Collection | Practical Treatment Frameworks Set 2

Social Thinking® Frameworks Collection | Practical Treatment Frameworks Set 2 Ages: 4 - adult With Set 2 of this collection, help students build social competencies with 13 more of our most popular and important teaching frameworks to promote social emotional learning and self-regulation at home, in clinic and school settings, and during individual or group teaching. Each teaching framework presents a specific, visually scaffolded graphic to introduce core social thinking concepts. Learn more

$24.99

Social Thinking Frameworks Collection | 26 Teaching Frameworks (Sets 1 & 2 Bundle)

Social Thinking Frameworks Collection | 26 Teaching Frameworks (Sets 1 & 2 Bundle) Ages: 4 - adult We’ve got 26 powerful visual tools to help you and your social learners crack open the social emotional world—all in one collection. We’ve distilled 25 years of our core learning and teaching into hands-on, ready-to-use , 8.5” x 11” scaffolds to help both interventionists and social learners organize, talk about, understand, and navigate diverse social landscapes. Learn more

$44.99 $49.98

Thinking About YOU Thinking About ME, 2nd Edition

Thinking About YOU Thinking About ME, 2nd Edition Ages: 4+ Our informative and accessible bestseller is ground zero for understanding and applying core components of the Social Thinking Methodology. It explores the social learning process and weaves together research with ways to teach specific social competencies. Introduces core treatment frameworks and related strategies and presents the Social Thinking Dynamic Assessment Protocol. Foundational reading for professionals and family members. Learn more

$54.99

Think Social! A Social Thinking Curriculum for School-Age Students

Think Social! A Social Thinking Curriculum for School-Age Students Ages: 4+ Think Social! is a comprehensive curriculum that includes over 69 Social Thinking® evidenced-informed concepts, frameworks, and strategies. A valuable resource for any professional or parent teaching social emotional concepts to school-age students—including both neurotypicals and Neurodivergents with social learning differences and/or challenges. The curriculum has basic suggestions for linking lessons to academic standards. Learn more

$91.99

Browse Resources for All Ages

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What’s a Friend, and Do I Really Need Friends?

Friendship & Relationship Development

What’s a Friend, and Do I Really Need Friends?

Tips & Strategies to Make and Keep Friends, Unpack Social Dislikes & Manage Social Anxiety

The ability to make and keep a friend is something most of us take for granted. However, when it’s hard to make a friend or a friendship dissolves into dislikes, it’s important to have metacognitively based concepts and strategies to help us engage to meet our own personal goals. In this livestream-recorded online training, we’ll unpack different aspects of peer-based relations, from friendship to dislike, and provide practical strategies and perspective-taking activities to encourage student motivation to continue to develop increasingly complex relational social competencies as they age.

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Replay access through July 31, 2023

3.5 hours toward CE credit, if applicable

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Part 1: Helping Students Gain Perspective on Their Emotions

The Power of Emotions

Part 1: Helping Students Gain Perspective on Their Emotions

Series Name: The Power of Emotions: Strategies to Fuel Self-Regulation, Learning, and Communication

In this first part of a four-part series, we explore how our emotions are central to our social competencies, executive functions, and self-regulation. Emotions are our brain’s powerhouse; they can help fuel motivation or derail us. We investigate how negative emotions are processed differently than positive emotions and how emotions are the cornerstone of each person's memories, both good and not so great. Learn strategies to help students unpack their daily emotional experiences.

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Replay access through July 31, 2023

3.5 hours toward CE credit, if applicable

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Part 1: Foundations for Early Learners—Teaching Thoughts, Feelings, and The Group Plan

Early Learners (Ages 4-7)

Part 1: Foundations for Early Learners—Teaching Thoughts, Feelings, and The Group Plan

Series Name: Introducing Social Thinking® Concepts to 4–7-Year-Olds Through Ten Storybooks and Two Curricula

Guide children’s early social learning and play experiences to strengthen social competencies and classroom learning. Part 1: Foundations for Early Learners—Teaching Thoughts, Feelings, and The Group Plan examines the foundations of our work with early learners, delves into the core concepts thoughts and feelings and the group plan, and provides strategies, lessons, and examples for teaching them to children ages 4–7 years old using We Thinkers! Volume 1 with fidelity.

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Replay access through July 31, 2023

3.5 hours toward CE credit, if applicable

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Part 1: The Social World: Practical Vocabulary and Concepts for Teaching How It Works

Social Thinking Vocabulary

Part 1: The Social World: Practical Vocabulary and Concepts for Teaching How It Works

Series Name: Social Thinking Vocabulary and Strategies

We all need practical social emotional learning tools for teaching social information. Part 1 of this two-part series introduces two core teaching frameworks, multiple tools, and practical strategies as part of the Social Thinking® Methodology’s concrete vocabulary. Discover social emotional learning strategies for teaching how the social world works.

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Replay access through July 31, 2023

3.5 hours toward CE credit, if applicable

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Part 1: How Can We Help Teens When They Want Us to Go Away?

Tweens & Teens

Part 1: How Can We Help Teens When They Want Us to Go Away?

Series Name: Exploring the Unique Needs of Teens Who Are Developing Social Self-Awareness

In this first part of a two-part series, we discuss teens’ expectations for working on social emotional self-regulation skills. We explore how to help students deemed “oppositional or resistant” to active participation in sessions. We also review how education and employment laws in the USA change when children turn 18 years old.

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Replay access through July 31, 2023

3.5 hours toward CE credit, if applicable

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Flirting, Dating & Maintaining Relationships: How Do You Teach This?

Friendship & Relationship Development

Flirting, Dating & Maintaining Relationships: How Do You Teach This?

In this course, we will address a range of topics including but not limited to culture, religion, pornography and the law, and emerging sexuality for neurodivergent social learners—especially those on the autism spectrum. We will show practical lessons developed with input from neurodivergent clients and students with different social learning styles as they established their own social relationship goals.

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Replay access through July 31, 2023

3.5 hours toward CE credit, if applicable

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Strategies to Build Social Competencies

The Social Thinking Methodology provides evidence-based strategies to help people ages four through adult develop their social competencies, flexible thinking & social problem solving and improve:

Browse Our Resources by Age

What People Are Saying About Social Thinking

Elementary School

Testimonial Social Thinking has completely changed the environment of who we are as a whole. Thank you for providing us with such rich social and emotional resources. The impact that your resources make are life changing and early intervention is key. Your curriculum is truly amazing! I bought into Social Thinking about 9 years ago and will use this as long as I am in education.

Natalie, Resource Teacher

Schools

Testimonial I appreciate how the Social Thinking Methodology links social intent/thinking and the common core or school based standards. This connection, and the understanding that exists, is so crucial to every member of a student's school community.

Peggy, 3rd Grade Teacher

Mental Health & Clinicians

Testimonial The Social Thinking Methodology is the philosophy that I ascribe to professionally. It serves as my guide through assessment and intervention.

Greg, School Psychologist

Speech Language Pathologists

Testimonial I love how realistic the approach is, and doable! Based on real clinical experience adaptable to individual needs/strengths. Great that all the vocabulary is simple, easy to understand, and not full of professional shop talk.

Amy, SLP

Parents & Families

Testimonial Social Thinking’s program has given me the much needed tools to communicate in a meaningful way with my 9-year-old son. Thank you. The stress level in our house has decreased along with the meltdowns. He is able to come out of the meltdowns much more readily.

Tammy, Mom of 9 year-old boy

Adult Clients

Testimonial I am a professional, high-functioning 37 year old woman diagnosed as being on the spectrum two years ago. The Social Thinking Methodology is by far the most helpful resource I have encountered. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it changed my life. Your concrete examples are extremely helpful.

Autistic Adult

Browse Our Products

Friendship & Relationship Development

10 Truths and Tips for Making & Keeping Friends

Thoughts & Feelings | #1 in Our Series of 10 Core Concepts

Award-Winning Guidebook for Bright Teens and Young Adults

Help guide social learners in some of the most significant learning of their lives

Quick Links

16th Annual Providers' Conference

3 days of illuminating instruction & discussion with renowned keynote speakers on the topic Beyond Academics: Prioritizing Social Learning Potential for ALL Students. Streaming live with recorded replay access for 30-days!

Free Webinars—Learn Essential Social Thinking Concepts for Free

How to Ask for Help

Thoughts & Feelings

Is Your Body in the Group?

Social Anxiety

Products on friendship & relationship development for developmental ages

Ages 4-8

Ages 9-12

Ages 13-18+

All Ages

Free Stuff for Home & School

Free Articles

Free Video Lesson

Free Video Lesson

What You Remember About Others

On Demand Courses—Practical Strategies You Can Use Right Now

What’s a Friend, and Do I Really Need Friends?

What’s a Friend, and Do I Really Need Friends?

Tips & Strategies to Make and Keep Friends, Unpack Social Dislikes & Manage Social Anxiety

Replay access through July 31, 2023

3.5 hours toward CE credit, if applicable

Part 1: Helping Students Gain Perspective on Their Emotions

Part 1: Helping Students Gain Perspective on Their Emotions

Series Name: The Power of Emotions: Strategies to Fuel Self-Regulation, Learning, and Communication

Replay access through July 31, 2023

3.5 hours toward CE credit, if applicable

Part 1: Foundations for Early Learners—Teaching Thoughts, Feelings, and The Group Plan

Part 1: Foundations for Early Learners—Teaching Thoughts, Feelings, and The Group Plan

Series Name: Introducing Social Thinking® Concepts to 4–7-Year-Olds Through Ten Storybooks and Two Curricula

Replay access through July 31, 2023

3.5 hours toward CE credit, if applicable

Part 1: The Social World: Practical Vocabulary and Concepts for Teaching How It Works

Part 1: The Social World: Practical Vocabulary and Concepts for Teaching How It Works

Series Name: Social Thinking Vocabulary and Strategies

Replay access through July 31, 2023

3.5 hours toward CE credit, if applicable

Part 1: How Can We Help Teens When They Want Us to Go Away?

Part 1: How Can We Help Teens When They Want Us to Go Away?

Series Name: Exploring the Unique Needs of Teens Who Are Developing Social Self-Awareness

Replay access through July 31, 2023

3.5 hours toward CE credit, if applicable

Flirting, Dating & Maintaining Relationships: How Do You Teach This?

Flirting, Dating & Maintaining Relationships: How Do You Teach This?

Replay access through July 31, 2023

3.5 hours toward CE credit, if applicable

What is Social Thinking?

What People Are Saying About Social Thinking