Self-control scenarios for kids: 35 real-life situations to practise

Interrupted conversations

Ages 6–10

Your parents are talking on the phone, and you really want to tell them something exciting. What’s the best way to handle it?

Also practises: focus, social awareness

Nervous Performer

Ages 6–12

Your teacher asks if anyone wants to perform a talent for Friday’s class. You’re interested but nervous others will laugh. What do you do?

Also practises: courage, confidence

Classmate poker!

Ages 6–14

Your classmate keeps poking others with a pencil and making jokes during quiet time. He pokes someone and they yell "ouch". The teacher asks if anyone saw what happened. What do you do?

Also practises: social awareness, responsibility

Cousin's Tall Tales at the Family Gathering

Ages 6–14

At a family gathering, your cousin starts making up stories about school to impress the adults. You know they’re not true. Everyone seems amazed. What do you do?

Also practises: empathy, relationship skills, integrity

Gift Surprise

Ages 6–14

At a family party, you’re given a gift by someone you don’t know well. You don’t like it — and everyone is watching. What do you do?

Also practises: empathy, relationship skills, responsibility

Juice Spill Giggles

Ages 6–14

Someone apologises quickly after spilling juice all over your artwork, but keeps laughing about it later. What do you do?

Also practises: confidence, social awareness, resilience

Mismatched Shoes

Ages 6–14

You rush to put on your shoes at school and realise too late that you’re wearing mismatched ones. A classmate points it out to the whole class and laughs. What do you do?

Also practises: confidence, self-awareness, optimism

Nervous notes

Ages 6–14

Before your piano recital, you get nervous and want to drop out. Your parent and teacher both encourage you. What do you do?

Also practises: empathy, relationship skills, responsibility

Taking Turns

Ages 6–14

You’re playing a board game and another student keeps skipping your turn by mistake. It’s happened twice. What do you do?

Also practises: resilience, confidence

When Mistakes Make Us Giggle

Ages 6–14

In maths class, your teacher asks for an answer and you give the wrong one. Some of your friends giggle behind you. What do you do?

Also practises: social awareness, focus, responsibility

Winning is winning?

Ages 8–12

You win a backyard race and can't help but keep bragging. Your friend remains quiet for a while and says nothing. What do you do?

Also practises: empathy, relationship skills, social awareness

Tablet Time with Sibling

Ages 8–14

You and your sibling are supposed to share tablet time. When it’s their turn, you realise you forgot to save your game and ask to finish. They don't want to share. What do you do?

Also practises: empathy, relationship skills, responsibility

The Argument you weren't in

Ages 10–14

You’re in your room doing homework when you hear your parents arguing loudly downstairs.

It’s about money — again.

You hear your name come up. One of them says,

“We can’t keep paying for all these extras — they don’t even appreciate it.”

The room goes quiet.

A few minutes later, your mum knocks on your door, eyes red, and says softly,

“Hey, everything’s fine. How’s your homework going?”

You want to yell, cry, and ask what’s really happening — but you also don’t want to make things worse.

What do you do?

Also practises: integrity, empathy, resilience, self-awareness

The Split Secret

Ages 10–14

Your parents have been arguing a lot lately.

One night, your dad tells you,

“Please don’t tell Mum I’m thinking of moving out — I just need time to figure things out.”

The next morning, your mum asks,

“Has your dad seemed distant lately? Be honest with me.”

You freeze.

You love them both. You don’t want to betray either — or lie.

What do you do?

Also practises: empathy, integrity

Project Mix Mash!

Ages 6–10

Your teacher puts you in a group for a big project, but everyone already seems to have friends in the group except you. They start talking about plans from last year that you don’t know about. You want to join your old group because you know them. What do you do?

Also practises: belonging, courage, relationship skills

Is This Video too Old for Us?

Ages 6–11

At a friend’s house, they start watching a YouTube video that says “for ages 12+.” No adults are around. What do you do?

Also practises: courage, empathy, integrity, responsibility

Team Captain

Ages 6–14

Your cousin is chosen as team captain even though you’ve played longer. You feel it’s unfair. What’s the best way to handle your feelings?

Also practises: resilience, belonging

The Goal that didn't count

Ages 6–14

You kick the ball into the goal during a family soccer game, but your older brother says it didn’t go in — even though you think it did. Everyone’s watching. What do you do?

Also practises: integrity, self-awareness

The Participation Medal

Ages 6–14

At a fun family race, you don’t win a medal — but your little brother does. You feel jealous when everyone cheers for him. How should you respond?

Also practises: self-awareness, optimism, social awareness

Whispers and Glasses

Ages 6–14

You overhear a whisper about someone’s new glasses looking ‘weird.’ The student hears it too and goes quiet. What do you do?

Also practises: self-awareness, confidence, courage

Lost Homework

Ages 8–12

You worked hard on your homework, but when you get to class, you realise you left it at home. Your teacher reminds you it’s due today. You can't go home but you can't hand in something that isn't there. What do you do?

Also practises: optimism, responsibility, integrity

Argument Echo

Ages 8–14

You get into an argument with your parent about screen time. They raise their voice — and you yell back. An hour later, you notice your heart still racing and your mind replaying every word. What do you do?

Also practises: self-awareness, responsibility

Bump and Bend

Ages 8–14

Someone bumps into you and gives a half-hearted “sorry” before walking off. You look down, and the school project you were carrying got bent. What do you do?

Also practises: optimism, integrity, courage

Cool Kids Club Leaves Classmates Feeling Left Out

Ages 8–14

Someone tells you that there is a 'cool kids' chat and only certain people are a part of it. You haven't been included. You feel left out. What do you do?

Also practises: relationship skills, social awareness, belonging

Feeling a little lonely

Ages 8–14

You've been increasingly ignored by more and more of your friends. You don't know why. What do you do?

Also practises: social awareness, self-awareness, optimism

Leadership troubles

Ages 8–14

You and two others are assigned as group leaders. One person tries to take over everything. You’re not sure how to speak up. What do you do?

Also practises: courage, empathy, social awareness

Recess Dare

Ages 8–14

At recess, a group dares you to ring the fire bell. You know it's wrong, but they are all pressuring you. They say you’re ‘too scared’ to do it. What do you do?

Also practises: social awareness, focus, responsibility

You Snap. You regret

Ages 8–14

You’re doing homework when your little brother bursts into your room and accidentally knocks over your water bottle onto your project. You yell, “Get out!” — louder than you meant to. He runs away crying. A few minutes later, you realise he didn’t mean to — and your throat feels tight with guilt. What do you do?

Also practises: self-awareness, empathy, kindness

Answers Shared in Group Chat Before Big Test

Ages 10–14

Before a big test, someone shares answers in a group chat. You see many classmates thanking them. What do you do?

Also practises: social awareness, courage, integrity

Class Joke?

Ages 10–14

You answer a question in class, but you pronounce one of the characters wrong

A few classmates laugh, and one whispers, “Nice one, genius.”

Your cheeks go red — you want to disappear.

You think you had a good point but the whole class is focussed on your pronunciation.

Later, the teacher says, “Good try — at least you had the courage to speak up.”

What do you do?

Also practises: confidence, courage, resilience

Homework fight?

Ages 10–14

You’re trying to finish a big assignment that’s due tomorrow — one that could raise your grade.

Halfway through, you hear your parents arguing again in the next room.

You try to block it out, but the voices get louder, and you catch your name.

Your chest tightens. You can’t focus anymore.

You know the deadline is close, but all you can think about is what’s happening at home.

What do you do?

Also practises: empathy, focus, resilience

Mystery Text

Ages 10–14

You get a message from an unknown username saying they know you from school. They want to chat privately. What do you do?

Also practises: social awareness, focus, online safety

Screenshot

Ages 10–14

You’re in a group chat with your friends.

One night, someone sends a screenshot — it’s of you, from a private message you sent to your best friend.

They’ve been talking about you behind your back.

Your chest feels tight. You scroll and see messages like,

“I wasn’t trying to be mean, I just think they’re so dramatic sometimes.”

You feel betrayed and embarrassed — but you also remember how close you’ve been for years.

The next day, your friend acts like nothing happened.

What do you do?

Also practises: relationship skills, integrity, courage

Secrets Spread

Ages 10–14

You shared something personal in a private chat. Later, you hear people whispering about it. A screenshot may have been shared. What do you do?

Also practises: self-awareness, kindness, online safety

The Version of you

Ages 10–14

You’ve noticed that when you act funny and carefree, people include you more.

When you’re quiet or serious, they scroll on their phones or ignore you.

You’ve started performing — always joking, always upbeat — even when you don’t feel like it.

Lately, you’re exhausted and not sure which version of you is real anymore.

What do you do?

Also practises: self-awareness, integrity, belonging