Kicking and Hitting – Social Story for Managing Anger & Self-Control

Many children struggle with impulse control and emotional regulation, especially when they feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or upset. Kicking and hitting are common reactions for young children who have not yet learned appropriate ways to express emotions.

This printable social story is designed to help children understand why hitting and kicking are not acceptable behaviors and learn positive ways to handle frustration and anger. By using real-life scenarios and first-person storytelling, this resource helps children connect with the story and apply the lessons in everyday situations.

It is especially useful for:
✔ Preschoolers and early learners developing self-control and emotional regulation skills.
✔ Children with autism, ADHD, and other behavioral challenges who may struggle with impulse control.
✔ Parents, teachers, and therapists looking for structured tools to teach safe ways to manage emotions.

This engaging and structured approach ensures that children learn in a positive, non-punitive way, focusing on self-awareness and alternative behaviors rather than just punishment.

Product Details

• Format: Printable PDF
• Total Pages: 11
• Segments: 16 real-life scenarios that teach self-regulation and positive behavior.
• Features:
  ✔ Engaging illustrations to reinforce learning.
  ✔ First-person storytelling for better emotional connection.
  ✔ 6 interactive activities to help children process and practice self-control.
  ✔ Clear, simple language for young learners.
  ✔ Scenarios include real-life moments when children may feel frustrated and lash out physically, helping them navigate these emotions in a healthy way.

This resource is perfect for parents, teachers, and therapists to use in home, school, or therapy settings.

Educational Benefits

• This social story goes beyond just stopping negative behaviors—it actively teaches children why hitting and kicking happen, and what to do instead.

  1. Teaches Self-Regulation & Emotional Control

  Children learn why they feel the urge to hit or kick and how to recognize emotions before reacting. This helps develop self-awareness and impulse control.

  2. Builds Problem-Solving & Coping Strategies

  Instead of reacting aggressively, children learn alternative ways to manage frustration, such as:
  ✔ Taking deep breaths
  ✔ Using words instead of actions
  ✔ Walking away from conflict
  ✔ Asking for help

  3. Supports Special Needs & Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

  This resource is particularly beneficial for children with autism, ADHD, and other developmental challenges who may struggle with expressing emotions in appropriate ways. The structured, repetitive format makes learning easier.

  4. Reinforces Learning with Interactive Activities

  Beyond just reading, children can apply their learning through six hands-on activities that encourage discussion, reflection, and problem-solving.

Instructions for Use

This social story is versatile and can be used at home, in classrooms, or in therapy sessions. Here’s how to get the most out of it:

1. Read & Discuss the Story

• Read the story aloud with your child or student.
• Pause at each scenario and ask reflection questions like:
  "Have you ever felt this way?"
  "What could you do instead of hitting or kicking?"
  "How do you think the other person feels?"

2. Use Real-Life Examples

• When your child is calm, talk about situations where hitting or kicking might happen (e.g., during a disagreement or frustration).
• Reinforce alternative behaviors with visuals or social scripts.

3. Practice with Interactive Activities

• Use the six included activities to reinforce the concepts. Activities include:
  ✔ Vocabulary practice – Learning words related to emotions and self-control.
  ✔ Spelling activity – Strengthening language skills through key words.
  ✔ Comprehension questions – Testing understanding of the story.
  ✔ Open-ended discussion – Encouraging personal reflections and self-awareness.
  ✔ Creative activity – Drawing or role-playing an alternative to hitting or kicking.
  ✔ Role-Play Activity – Acting out real-life scenarios to practice self-regulation skills.

4. Reinforce the Concept Daily

• Model the behavior – Show calm responses to frustration.
• Praise positive behavior – Recognize when your child chooses a safe way to express emotions:
  "Great job using your words instead of hitting!"
  "I love how you took deep breaths when you felt frustrated!"

Activities Using the Resource

To reinforce the lessons in the social story, here are interactive activities that help children practice self-control and appropriate responses to frustration.

1. Role-Playing "What Can I Do Instead?"

Objective: Teach children to replace hitting and kicking with calm and safe alternatives.
✔ Materials: None needed, but optional props like dolls, puppets, or emotion cards can help.
✔ How to Play:

• Set up a scenario where a child might feel frustrated and want to hit or kick (e.g., losing a turn in a game, not getting what they want).
• Ask: "What can we do instead of hitting or kicking?"
• Guide the child to act out safe alternatives like:
  ✔ Taking deep breaths
  ✔ Walking away
  ✔ Using words to express frustration
  ✔ Asking for help

2. "Cool Down Countdown" Game

Objective: Help children learn self-regulation techniques when upset.
✔ Materials: A timer or visual countdown (e.g., fingers, clock).
✔ How to Play:

• When a child feels frustrated, have them pause and count down from 5.
• With each number, they do an action to calm down, such as:
  5 – Take a deep breath.
  4 – Shake out the tension in their hands.
  3 – Stretch their arms.
  2 – Say, "I can handle this."
  1 – Make a good choice!
• This teaches delayed reaction and impulse control.

3. "Red Light, Green Light" for Impulse Control

Objective: Improve listening and self-regulation in a fun way.
✔ Materials: Open space or a small area for movement.
✔ How to Play:

• Green Light: The child walks or moves forward.
• Red Light: The child must freeze immediately (symbolizing stopping an impulsive reaction).
• After stopping, discuss: "What can we do when we feel like kicking or hitting?"

4. "Safe Hands, Safe Feet" Chart

Objective: Encourage positive behavior reinforcement.
✔ Materials: A printable chart or whiteboard.
✔ How to Play:

• Create two columns: "Safe Choices" "Unsafe Choices."
• Have the child place pictures, drawings, or stickers in each category.
• Reinforce the importance of choosing safe ways to express emotions.

5. "What Would You Do?" Discussion Cards

Objective: Develop problem-solving skills in challenging situations.
✔ Materials: Printable scenario cards or written prompts.
✔ How to Play:

• Read a real-life situation aloud (e.g., "Your friend takes your toy without asking. What do you do?").
• Let the child think and respond.
• Discuss safe and unsafe reactions and why hitting or kicking is not okay.

Conclusion

"Kicking and Hitting – Social Story for Self-Control" is a powerful learning tool that helps children understand:
✔ Why hitting and kicking happen
✔ How to manage anger in a safe way
✔ Healthy ways to express emotions

By using relatable scenarios, engaging illustrations, and structured activities, this resource ensures that children develop positive coping skills and improved behavior.

Instant download – Start using it today!
Perfect for home, school, and therapy sessions.