Asking for Help Strategy Card
Free Video Lesson & Thinksheet
Download Free Thinksheet
Perspective Taking in the Classroom
Watch Free WebinarBring social emotional learning for children ages 5-10+ into your classroom—and save 10%!
Shop NowRecognizing and Understanding Our Own & Others’ Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors
As we begin another school year, perspective taking is something our students are required to do every day, all day. Whether working in a group, reading a book, hanging out, or writing for others, understanding another’s point of view is embedded in every school’s curriculum. Perspective taking also helps us be consciously aware of each other and consider the thoughts, feelings, and intentions as we participate in and work our way through social situations.
Perspective taking is what helps us make sense of social situations—where we are, who is there with us, and what’s happening—even when we aren’t actively interacting with each other. Perspective taking helps us regulate our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and adjust what we do and say to meet our own and others’ social goals—whether we’re playing a game, enjoying a family meal, learning in a group, or driving a car. Our ability to take perspective is a developmental learning process that impacts everything we experience in the social world. Most of us begin learning to take perspective intuitively as infants, but those with social learning differences and/or challenges may need explicit guidance and tools. It’s that important.
The Social Thinking Methodology deconstructs the perspective taking process to make each element visible, understandable, and doable. We explain terms such as emotional regulation, Alexithymia, and social learning differences. Its evidence-informed conceptual and teaching frameworks show interventionists, children, students, and clients how the social world works and why through concrete, explicit vocabulary and step-by-step instruction. And it provides developmentally based strategies and engaging activities to support social learners ages four to adult in moving toward improvement in their own social goals.
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.
Free Webinars —Learn Essential Social Thinking Concepts for Free
Products to Support Social Perspective Taking Across Developmental Ages
All Ages
Early Learners (4-7)
Elementary School (Ages 8-11)
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.
Learn moreTweens, Teens & Young Adults
With respect, empathy, and wacky humor, Slaying Digital Dragons empowers teens to explore their screen scene; join the resistance against Big Tech’s manipulations and addictive algorithms; protect their body, brain, psyche, reputation, and relationships from the Digital Dark Side; and conduct a self-intervention (called an “App-endectomy”) to reset and optimize their digital lives.
Learn moreFree Stuff for Home & School
Free Articles
- Teaching an Essential Life Skill: How to Ask for Help
- Social Perspective Taking & The 5 Steps of Being with Others
- Understanding Core Social Thinking Needs: The ILAUGH Model
- Add-a-Thought: Teach an Essential Conversation Skill
- Social Emotional Self-Regulation: Why It Doesn't Involve a Behavior Plan
- What Is Shared Imagination & Why Is It So Important to Relationship Development?
- Superflex® Teaches Super Metacognitive Strategies
- The Expanded Social Thinking–Social Competency Model (ST-SCM)
Free Video Lesson
Allison King | MS, CCC-SLP
Social Thinking San Jose, Clinical Director
Everyone has thoughts! How do we know what other people are thinking? How can we let other people know what we are thinking about? How do we get thoughts from one brain to another? The only way to do it is to bridge your brains!
Free Video Lesson
Did you know that asking for help requires self-awareness of one’s own perspective taking? All individuals need help at times, but needing help doesn’t mean you don’t know anything at all. We created a simple Asking for Help Strategy Card that breaks down the amount of help a student needs. This free video lesson & strategy card is part of our in depth 60-minute free webinar: Perspective Taking in the Classroom.
What is Social Thinking?
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 to meet their own social goals and improve:
- Conversation & social connection
- Executive functioning
- Friendship & relationship development
- Perspective taking
- Self-regulation
- Social Thinking Vocabulary
What People Are Saying About Social Thinking
Parents & Families
Thank you doesn’t seem enough for all that your teachings have done for me and my family! They have been a lifeline for me to re-connect with my 9-year-old. Everything you publish is 100% applicable. Keep up the amazing work!
Elementary School
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.
Schools
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.
Mental Health & Clinicians
The Social Thinking Methodology is the philosophy that I ascribe to professionally. It serves as my guide through assessment and intervention.
Speech Language Pathologists
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.
Parents & Families
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.
Adult Clients
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.