Friendship skills and kind peer behaviour are the focus of these printable sorting cards for children. The cards help pupils notice the difference between helpful, respectful actions and unkind choices, using clear everyday examples such as sharing, taking turns, including others, telling the truth, interrupting, name-calling and leaving someone out.
Cut out the cards and invite children to sort each scenario into “good friend” and “not a good friend” groups, then talk through why each choice belongs there. The activity works well as a social skills lesson, friendship intervention, PSHE activity, nurture group task or child counselling prompt.
The pack is presented as illustrated cards with simple captions, making it accessible for younger children and pupils who benefit from visual learning. Positive friendship behaviours include sharing toys and games, taking turns, inviting others to play, including everyone, helping someone, comforting an upset child and using kind words.
Further cards show polite and responsible choices such as saying “please”, “thank you” and “sorry”, telling the truth, using gentle hands, waiting patiently, asking before borrowing, returning borrowed items, playing fairly, encouraging others, welcoming a new child and standing up for someone being treated unkindly.
Unhelpful friendship behaviours are also shown, including snatching toys, refusing to take turns, saying “You can’t play”, leaving someone out on purpose, refusing to help, laughing at someone who is upset, interrupting and calling someone names. Teachers, school counsellors, family support workers and parents could use the cards to build vocabulary around friendship, empathy and respectful play.
