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Free check-off worksheets for children with ASD’s to explore conversation topics with family members

Children with autism spectrum disorders often have difficulties having conversations with the people they live with. It really helps to use picture guides. Here is a set of easy-to-use worksheets for classroom, speech room and home.

How to use the worksheets:

1. Have the child put check marks next to the photos they think represent the person’s interests.

2. Go over the images one at a time with the child. Explain that the family member probably has many interests that are different from the child’s own interests.

3. The sheet “Questions, Comments, Compliments” can be used to set up role plays and actual conversation practice with family members.

4. Have family members fill them out for the child to use as a reference.

5. Project the sheets using a smart board or projector – this really helps for small group or classroom discussions about family members.

I hope these worksheets are useful for you.

Joel Shaul, LCSW

Your comments on these resources are most welcome, and often helpful. Click HERE to send an email.

Children on the autism spectrum usually don’t easily grasp the many functions of conversation. Here is a good activity to help them. The various functions of two-way conversation are clearly explained and word examples are provided. It is loosely based on concepts outlined in Relationship Development Intervention (RDI). ( This activity requires some reading ability. Please see links below to conversation learning activities that rely less on reading.)

How to create the Conversation Box activity:

Follow the directions for PDF download below.

social skills activity speech therapy for kids with asperger's — Here is the box I use for my own Conversation Box cards.

Put the cards in a box. It’s nice to decorate it.

How to do the Conversation Box activity with kids on the autism spectrum:

Use words something like this:

“We are going to play the Conversation Box activity. It’s a fun activity to help us to practice all the good ways to talk back and forth with other people. Inside the box are cards showing all the good ways that people talk back and forth with each other.”

Now, show them the cards, as well as the eight prompts providing word examples for each card category.

“We will take turns reaching inside the box to randomly draw a card. When you pick a card, you have to have a back-and-forth conversation with another person here. You can look at these signs [show them the eight word prompts] to help you know what to say.”

I hope you enjoy this social skills activity.

Joel Shaul, LCSW

CLICK HERE: Conversation Box, & directions

This activity is also available in a PowerPoint version (in case you wish to show / project it instead of printing it):

Conversation Box PowerPoint

En Español: La caja de diálogos: Un método para ayudar a los niños con autismo a conversar

For dozens more free downloads for conversation and social communication,

follow this link.

Your comments on these resources are most welcome, and often helpful. Click HERE to send an email.