What to Do When I Feel Like Throwing Things – Free Printable Social Story

Throwing things out of frustration is a common behavior in young children, especially when they feel overwhelmed, angry, or unable to express their emotions verbally. While this reaction is natural for kids still developing self-regulation skills, it can be disruptive in classrooms, homes, and social settings.

This free printable social story is designed to help children understand why they feel like throwing things and learn safe and appropriate ways to handle those feelings. By using relatable, real-life scenarios, this story provides a structured and engaging way to teach kids self-control, emotional awareness, and problem-solving skills.

It is especially useful for:
✔ Preschoolers and early learners developing self-regulation skills.
✔ Children with autism, ADHD, and other behavioral challenges who may struggle with impulse control.
✔ Parents, teachers, and therapists looking for a structured, visual tool to teach alternative behaviors.

This interactive social story empowers children with positive coping strategies, reducing frustration-related outbursts while promoting emotional intelligence and problem-solving.

Product Details

• Format: Free Printable PDF
• Total Pages: 11
• Segments: 16 real-life scenarios teaching self-control and emotional regulation.
• Features:
  ✔ Engaging illustrations for visual reinforcement.
  ✔ First-person storytelling to help children relate to the situation.
  ✔ 6 interactive activities for practicing self-regulation and impulse control.
  ✔ Simple, child-friendly language for easy comprehension.
  ✔ Scenarios include everyday moments when a child may feel frustrated and want to throw objects, along with positive alternatives to manage these emotions.

This free resource is ideal for parents, educators, and therapists to use in classroom, home, and therapy settings.

Educational Benefits

• This free social story is not just about stopping negative behaviors—it actively teaches children why they feel like throwing things and what they can do instead.

  1. Teaches Self-Regulation & Emotional Control

  Children learn why they feel the urge to throw things, how to recognize their emotions before reacting, and how to pause and make better choices.

  2. Encourages Problem-Solving & Safe Alternatives

  Instead of throwing objects, children are encouraged to:
  ✔ Take deep breaths.
  ✔ Walk away from the situation.
  ✔ Use words to express frustration.
  ✔ Squeeze a stress ball or use a sensory tool.

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

  This story is particularly beneficial for children with autism, ADHD, and sensory processing difficulties who may struggle with expressing emotions in appropriate ways. The structured, repetitive format makes it easier for them to process and apply the lessons.

  4. Reinforces Learning with Interactive Activities

  Beyond just reading, children can practice self-regulation techniques through six hands-on activities that encourage discussion, role-playing, and personal reflection.

Instructions for Use

This social story is versatile and can be used in various settings to help children develop positive self-regulation skills.

1. Read & Discuss the Story

• Read the story aloud with your child or student.
• Pause at each scenario and ask questions to encourage reflection:
  "Have you ever felt this way?"
  "What else could you do instead of throwing something?"
  "How do you think others feel when you throw things?"

2. Use Real-Life Examples

• When a child feels frustrated, remind them of the strategies from the story.
• Provide visual reminders with printable cue cards or social scripts.
• Help children identify emotions before they escalate into throwing behaviors.

3. Engage in Interactive Activities

• Use the six included activities to reinforce key concepts:
  ✔ Vocabulary practice – Identifying feelings and triggers.
  ✔ Spelling activity – Learning emotional regulation words.
  ✔ Comprehension questions – Testing understanding of the story.
  ✔ Open-ended discussion – Encouraging personal reflections.
  ✔ Creative activity – Drawing or role-playing positive ways to handle frustration.
  ✔ Role-Play Activity – Practicing self-control techniques in real-life scenarios.

4. Reinforce Positive Behavior Daily

• Model appropriate emotional regulation in everyday situations.
• Praise and reward when your child successfully manages their frustration:
  "Great job using your words instead of throwing something!"
  "I love how you took deep breaths when you were upset!

Activities Using the Resource

To help children internalize self-regulation strategies, these interactive activities reinforce the key lessons from the social story.

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

Objective: Teach children to recognize frustration and practice positive alternatives to throwing things.
✔ Materials: Small props (soft toys, stress balls, fidget tools).
✔ How to Play:

• Set up a scenario where a child might feel frustrated and want to throw something (e.g., they lose a game, can’t find a toy, or are told “no”).
• Ask: "What could we do instead of throwing?"
• Help the child act out alternatives such as:
  ✔ Taking deep breaths.
  ✔ Using words to express feelings.
  ✔ Squeezing a stress ball.
  ✔ Asking for help.
• Reinforce positive responses with praise:
  "Great job using your words instead of throwing!"

2. "Calm Down Countdown" Game

Objective: Teach children to pause before reacting when they feel upset.
✔ Materials: A timer or visual countdown (e.g., fingers, number flashcards).
✔ How to Play:

• When a child starts feeling frustrated, have them pause and count down from 5.
• Each number represents a calming action:
  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 (walk away, talk, or squeeze a fidget toy).
• This helps train impulse control and makes calming down a structured, predictable process.

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

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

• Green Light: The child moves forward.
• Red Light: The child freezes immediately—just like they should stop before throwing something!
• After stopping, discuss:
  "What else can we do when we feel like throwing things?"

4. "My Safe Hands and Safe Choices" Chart

Objective: Help children visualize what to do instead of throwing things.
✔ Materials: Printable chart, markers, or stickers.
✔ How to Play:

• Create a chart with two columns: "Safe Choices" and "Not Safe Choices."
• Have the child place pictures, drawings, or stickers in each category.
• Reinforce the importance of making safe choices when frustrated.

5. "What Would You Do?" Discussion Cards

Objective: Teach children to problem-solve emotions before acting on impulse.
✔ Materials: Printable scenario cards or written prompts.
✔ How to Play:

• Read a real-life situation aloud (e.g., "You can’t find your favorite toy. What do you do?").
• Have the child think and respond with positive choices.
• Reinforce safe responses and talk about why throwing is not okay.

Conclusion

"What to Do When I Feel Like Throwing Things – Free Social Story" is an engaging and structured way to help children:
✔ Understand why they feel like throwing things
✔ Learn safe and appropriate ways to express frustration
✔ Develop impulse control and emotional awareness

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

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