Social & Sensory Skills Checklist
SOCIAL PLAY & EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Beginning Play Behaviors
1. Maintains proximity to peer within 1 foot
2. Observes peers in play vicinity within 3 feet
3. Parallel play near peers using the same or similar material (e.g., playing cars near a peer who is also playing cars)
4. Physically imitates peer
5. Verbally imitates peer
6. Takes turns appropriately during simple games
Intermediate Play Behaviors
1. Shares toys and talks about the activity with peers, even though the play agenda of the other children is different
2. Physically and verbally responds to interactions from peers (accepts toy from peer, answers questions)
3. Returns and initiates greetings with peers
4. Know appropriate ways of joining in an activity with peers
5. Invites others to play
6. Takes turns during structured activities
7. Obeys game rules
8. Requests toys, food, and materials from peers
Advanced Play Behavior
1. Plays cooperatively with peers during imaginative play
2. Makes comments about what he/she is playing to peers
3. Organizes play (suggests ideas to peers on how to play)
4. Follows peer play plans
5. Takes turns during unstructured activities without a time
limit
6. Offers toys, food, and materials to peers
1. Maintains proximity to peer within 1 foot
2. Observes peers in play vicinity within 3 feet
3. Parallel play near peers using the same or similar material (e.g., playing cars near a peer who is also playing cars)
4. Physically imitates peer
5. Verbally imitates peer
6. Takes turns appropriately during simple games
Intermediate Play Behaviors
1. Shares toys and talks about the activity with peers, even though the play agenda of the other children is different
2. Physically and verbally responds to interactions from peers (accepts toy from peer, answers questions)
3. Returns and initiates greetings with peers
4. Know appropriate ways of joining in an activity with peers
5. Invites others to play
6. Takes turns during structured activities
7. Obeys game rules
8. Requests toys, food, and materials from peers
Advanced Play Behavior
1. Plays cooperatively with peers during imaginative play
2. Makes comments about what he/she is playing to peers
3. Organizes play (suggests ideas to peers on how to play)
4. Follows peer play plans
5. Takes turns during unstructured activities without a time
limit
6. Offers toys, food, and materials to peers
EMOTIONAL REGULATION
Understanding Emotions
1. Identifies likes and dislikes
2. Identifies emotions in self
3. Identifies emotions on others
4. Justifies emotions once identified (eating because I’m hungry)
5. Demonstrates affection and empathy toward peers
6. Refrains from aggressive behaviors toward peers
7. Refrains from aggressive behaviors toward self
8. Does not exhibit intense fears or phobias
9. Interprets body language
10. Uses different tones of voice to convey messages
Self Regulation
1. Allows others to comfort him/her if upset or agitated
2. Self regulates when tense or upset
3. Self regulates when energy level is high
4. Deals with being teased in acceptable ways
5. Deals with being left out of a group
6. Accepts not being first at a game or activity
7. Accepts losing at a game without becoming upset/angry
8. Says “no” in acceptable way to things he/she does not want to do
9. Accepts being told “no” without becoming upset/angry
10. Able to say “I don’t know”
11. Able to end conversations appropriately
Flexibility
1. Accepts making mistakes without becoming upset/angry
2. Accepts consequences of his/her behavior
3. Accepts unexpected changes
4. Continues to try when something is difficult
5. Ignores others or situations when it is desirable to do so
Problem Solving
1. Identifies/defines problems
2. Generates solutions to problems
3. Carries out solutions by negotiating or compromising
4. Understands impact his/her behavior has on peers
1. Identifies likes and dislikes
2. Identifies emotions in self
3. Identifies emotions on others
4. Justifies emotions once identified (eating because I’m hungry)
5. Demonstrates affection and empathy toward peers
6. Refrains from aggressive behaviors toward peers
7. Refrains from aggressive behaviors toward self
8. Does not exhibit intense fears or phobias
9. Interprets body language
10. Uses different tones of voice to convey messages
Self Regulation
1. Allows others to comfort him/her if upset or agitated
2. Self regulates when tense or upset
3. Self regulates when energy level is high
4. Deals with being teased in acceptable ways
5. Deals with being left out of a group
6. Accepts not being first at a game or activity
7. Accepts losing at a game without becoming upset/angry
8. Says “no” in acceptable way to things he/she does not want to do
9. Accepts being told “no” without becoming upset/angry
10. Able to say “I don’t know”
11. Able to end conversations appropriately
Flexibility
1. Accepts making mistakes without becoming upset/angry
2. Accepts consequences of his/her behavior
3. Accepts unexpected changes
4. Continues to try when something is difficult
5. Ignores others or situations when it is desirable to do so
Problem Solving
1. Identifies/defines problems
2. Generates solutions to problems
3. Carries out solutions by negotiating or compromising
4. Understands impact his/her behavior has on peers
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Conversational Skills
1. Initiate conversation when it is appropriate to do so
2. Initiates conversation around specific topic
3. Asks “Wh” questions
4. Responds to “Wh” questions
5. Makes a variety of comments, related to the topic during conversation
6. Introduces him/herself to someone new
7. Introduces people to each other
8. Ends conversations appropriately
Nonverbal Conversational Skills
1. Maintains appropriate proximity to conversation partner
2. Orients body toward speaker
3. Pays attention to a person’s nonverbal language and understands what is being communicated
4. Waits to interject
Compliments
1. Gives appropriate compliments to peers
2. Appropriately receives compliments
3. Asks for a favor appropriately
4. Apologizes independently
1. Initiate conversation when it is appropriate to do so
2. Initiates conversation around specific topic
3. Asks “Wh” questions
4. Responds to “Wh” questions
5. Makes a variety of comments, related to the topic during conversation
6. Introduces him/herself to someone new
7. Introduces people to each other
8. Ends conversations appropriately
Nonverbal Conversational Skills
1. Maintains appropriate proximity to conversation partner
2. Orients body toward speaker
3. Pays attention to a person’s nonverbal language and understands what is being communicated
4. Waits to interject
Compliments
1. Gives appropriate compliments to peers
2. Appropriately receives compliments
3. Asks for a favor appropriately
4. Apologizes independently