Solving Friendship Problems | Printable Social Skills Lesson for Ages 8–10

Does your child struggle to work through hurt feelings, broken trust, misunderstandings, or other friendship problems?

Friendship problems are normal, but children may not know how to address them without blaming, avoiding the situation, or ending the friendship. They need practice calming down, explaining what happened, listening to the other person, and deciding how to move forward.

Through the relatable story “You Told Them?” children explore what happens when something shared privately is repeated to someone else. They will learn how broken trust can affect a friendship and practice steps for making things right.

Your child will practice how to:

• Identify the actual friendship problem
• Explain feelings without yelling or blaming
• Listen to the other person’s perspective
• Understand how sharing private information can break trust
• Take responsibility for hurtful choices
• Give a meaningful apology
• Work together to find a fair solution
• Decide how trust can be rebuilt

Inside this lesson:

• A relatable, age-appropriate social story
• Guided comprehension and discussion questions
• A visual teaching page for solving friendship problems
• Practice activities and real-life social scenarios
• Personal reflection and skill-building pages

How to use this lesson

This lesson supports approximately one week of learning and practice. Read the story, complete a few pages at a time, and help your child practice the steps for talking through friendship problems when both people are calm.

No teaching experience is required. Simply download, print, and work through the lesson together.

Perfect for:

• Homeschool learning
• Parent-guided practice at home
• Classroom SEL instruction
• Small-group learning
• Counseling or behavior-support sessions
• After-school programs

Please note:

✓ Designed for ages 8–10; may also suit younger children depending on their maturity level and support needs
✓ One complete printable lesson
✓ Instant digital download
✓ Delivered in printable PDF format
✓ Nothing will be shipped
✓ Also included in the complete 8-lesson Friendship & Social Skills Unit

Help your child understand that friendship problems are easier to solve when both people feel heard, take responsibility, and work together to repair the relationship.