Sometimes the words for help are hard to find. This is a practice game. You and a trusted adult will try a pretend problem. Nobody has to act upset for the game.
How to use this page
Choose a small problem: a lid will not open, the room is too loud, or you cannot find a page. Choose talking, pointing, a picture, or a hand signal.
Try your signal
Show the adult how you want to ask. You might say, "Please help with this," or point to the thing you need. The adult answers, "I see you need help. Show me which part." You can say "not that" if they guess wrong.
Try a second answer
Sometimes an adult needs a moment. Practice the adult saying, "I can help after I put this down." Ask what you can do while you wait. If something is unsafe, get another safe adult right away. You do not need to keep waiting.
Choose what to keep
Trade roles if you want. Let the adult practice asking you for help with a pretend task. At the end, choose the words or signal that felt easiest. You can use it again, change it, or stop the game.
Reflection prompts
Use these questions in conversation, on paper, or in the downloaded PDF. You may adapt or skip a prompt.
- My help words or signal