🐾 How Do I Talk? — Communication Styles
💬🐾

How Do I Talk?

PawSteps · Communication Styles Workbook · Ages 6–12
🐭 🦁 🦊 🦉
✔ 12 pages, A4 print-ready
✔ The 4 communication styles as friendly animal characters:
   🐭 Quiet Mouse · 🦁 Roaring Lion · 🦊 Sneaky Fox · 🦉 Wise Owl
✔ Spot-the-style quiz · body language detective
✔ "Say it the Owl way" rewriting practice + I-statement formula
✔ Role-play cards, reflection page, answer key & certificate
✔ For counsellors, SLPs, teachers, therapists & parents
© PawSteps · For personal & classroom use — not for resale or sharing.
PawSteps · communication styles workbook
PawSteps · Page 1

Meet the Four Communicators

Name:
Date:
🦉 Everyone talks in different ways at different times — even grown-ups! At PawSteps there are four ways of communicating. Which animals do YOU recognise?
🐭

Quiet Mouse

Passive

Mouse doesn't say what she needs. She whispers "it's fine…" even when it isn't, and lets others choose everything. Inside, her feelings pile up and up.

🦁

Roaring Lion

Aggressive

Lion ROARS to get his way. He interrupts, demands and blames: "Give it to me NOW!" People hear him… but it hurts their feelings, and they stop wanting to play.

🦊

Sneaky Fox

Passive-Aggressive

Fox says one thing but means another. He mutters "nice drawing… I suppose", slams doors, and gives the silent treatment instead of saying what's really wrong.

🦉

Wise Owl

Assertive ⭐ the goal!

Owl says what she feels and needs — calmly, clearly and kindly. She listens too. "I feel left out. Can I join the next game?" Firm AND friendly.

✏️ Quick think: which animal do you sound like MOST often? Circle: 🐭 🦁 🦊 🦉 — no wrong answers, we all use all four sometimes!

PawSteps · meet the communicators
PawSteps · Style Study 1

Quiet Mouse — Passive

Name:
Date:
🐭
Sounds like: "It's fine." · "I don't mind." · "Whatever you want." · (saying nothing at all)
Looks like: looking down 👀 · tiny voice · shrugging · hiding at the back
The problem: Mouse's needs stay invisible — so they never get met, and the sad feelings grow inside.

✏️ Answer the questions.

1. Why don't Mouse's friends know what she wants?
2. What happens to feelings that stay squashed inside?

💭 Your turn: when do YOU go into mouse-mode? (e.g. with new people, when I'm tired, in big groups…)

🦉 Owl upgrade! Mouse wants a turn on the swing but only whispers "it's okay…". What could she say instead?

PawSteps · quiet mouse
PawSteps · Style Study 2

Roaring Lion — Aggressive

Name:
Date:
🦁
Sounds like: "Give it NOW!" · "That's stupid!" · "It's YOUR fault!" · interrupting and shouting
Looks like: pointing ☝️ · big angry body · standing too close · grabbing
The problem: Lion gets heard — but people feel scared or upset, and friendships get scratched.

✏️ Answer the questions.

1. Lion often GETS what he wants. So what's the problem?
2. How might Lion's friends feel after he roars at them?

💭 Your turn: what makes YOUR inner lion roar? (e.g. losing, being blamed, feeling rushed…)

🦉 Owl upgrade! Lion roars "You RUINED my tower!!" What could he say instead? (Hint: start with "I feel…")

PawSteps · roaring lion
PawSteps · Style Study 3

Sneaky Fox — Passive-Aggressive

Name:
Date:
🦊
Sounds like: "FINE. Whatever." · "I was only joking…" · saying "I'm not cross" in a cross voice
Looks like: eye-rolling 🙄 · huffing · silent treatment · stomping off "for no reason"
The problem: Fox's words say one thing and his body says another — so nobody can fix what's actually wrong.

✏️ Answer the questions.

1. Fox says "I'm FINE" but slams the door. What is his body really saying?
2. Why is fox-talk confusing for friends?

💭 Your turn: everyone goes a bit foxy sometimes! What does YOUR fox-mode look like? (huffing? one-word answers?)

🦉 Owl upgrade! Fox is upset he wasn't invited, so he says "I didn't even WANT to come." What could he say instead?

PawSteps · sneaky fox
PawSteps · Style Study 4

Wise Owl — Assertive ⭐

Name:
Date:
🦉
Sounds like: "I feel… when…" · "I need…" · "No thank you." · "Can we take turns?"
Looks like: calm voice · friendly eyes 👀 · standing tall (not too close!) · listening as much as talking
The magic: Owl is honest AND kind at the same time. People know exactly how to help her — and they trust her.
🦉 Owl's secret formula — this is the most useful sentence at PawSteps:
I feel…(name the feeling)
+
when…(say what happened)
+
I need / Can we…(ask for what helps)

✏️ Try the formula yourself! Someone keeps taking your pencil without asking.

I feel when
Can we / I need

✅ Owl also says NO kindly. Tick the owl-style "no":

⬜ "No thanks, I don't want to swap."   ⬜ "Ugh, NO! Go away!"   ⬜ (says yes but feels awful)
PawSteps · wise owl
PawSteps · Activity 5

Spot the Style!

Name:
Date:
👂 Read what each pupil says. Circle the animal who is talking: 🐭 Mouse · 🦁 Lion · 🦊 Fox · 🦉 Owl
1. "Give me the ball RIGHT NOW or I'm telling!"🐭🦁🦊🦉
2. "I feel sad when I'm picked last. Can we mix the teams up?"🐭🦁🦊🦉
3. (wants to play, but stands at the edge saying nothing)🐭🦁🦊🦉
4. "Nice goal… for a beginner." 🙄🐭🦁🦊🦉
5. "It's fine, you can have my snack…" (tummy rumbling)🐭🦁🦊🦉
6. "No thank you — I'm still using it. You can have it after me."🐭🦁🦊🦉
7. "FINE. Do it YOUR way. Whatever." (stomps off)🐭🦁🦊🦉
8. "Move! You're SO slow!"🐭🦁🦊🦉

⭐ Challenge: pick one Lion or Fox line above and rewrite it the Owl way:

PawSteps · spot the style
PawSteps · Activity 6

Body Language Detective

Name:
Date:
🕵️ Bodies talk before mouths do! Write M (Mouse), L (Lion), F (Fox) or O (Owl) next to each body clue.
Looking at your shoes and shrugging ___     Standing tall with a calm, friendly face ___
Pointing a finger and leaning in close ___     Rolling eyes and huffing loudly ___
Whisper-quiet voice ___     Steady, medium voice ___     Shouting voice ___     Sarcastic sing-song voice ___
Arms crossed, turned away, "nothing's wrong!" ___     Nodding while the other person talks ___

🎭 Mirror game! With a partner, take turns acting each animal's body language — no words allowed. Can they guess your animal? Tick the ones you tried: ⬜🐭 ⬜🦁 ⬜🦊 ⬜🦉

✏️ Owl's body checklist — draw yourself doing all four:

🧍 standing tall · 👀 friendly eyes · 🔉 calm voice · 👂 listening ears
PawSteps · body language detective
PawSteps · Activity 7

Say It the Owl Way

Name:
Date:
✏️ Each speech bubble needs an Owl makeover! Rewrite it so it's honest AND kind. Use the formula: I feel… when… I need/Can we…
🦁 "You ALWAYS hog the iPad! Give it!"
🦉 The Owl way:
🐭 "…it's okay, I didn't really want a turn anyway…"
🦉 The Owl way:
🦊 "Wow, GREAT team you picked. Really great." 🙄
🦉 The Owl way:
🦁 "This game is rubbish and so are the rules!"
🦉 The Owl way:
PawSteps · say it the owl way
PawSteps · Activity 8

Role-Play Cards

✂️ Cut out the cards. Pick one, act the scene as Mouse, Lion or Fox first (it's fun!) — then replay it the Owl way. Feel the difference!
🍕

Your friend takes the last slice of pizza — the one you'd been saving.

Play it as 🦁, then as 🦉
🎮

Your turn on the game was skipped and nobody noticed.

Play it as 🐭, then as 🦉
🎨

Someone laughs at your drawing in front of everyone.

Play it as 🦊, then as 🦉
⚽

You never get passed the ball at break time.

Play it as 🐭, then as 🦉
📚

A classmate keeps borrowing your things without asking.

Play it as 🦁, then as 🦉
🎂

You weren't invited to a party and you feel left out.

Play it as 🦊, then as 🦉
PawSteps · role-play cards
PawSteps · Activity 9

My Communication Check-In

Name:
Date:
🦉 Last one! Be honest — every animal lives inside all of us. Knowing when they show up is the superpower.

🐭 I go mouse-mode with/when…   (certain people? places? feelings?)

🦁 My lion roars with/when…

🦊 My fox sneaks out with/when…

🦉 I'm already great at owl-talk when…   (yes, you already do it sometimes!)

⭐ My owl goal: ONE situation this week where I'll try the "I feel… when… I need…" formula:

📊 Colour the bar: how confident do you feel about speaking up the Owl way?

just startingowl in trainingfully fledged owl! 🦉
PawSteps · communication check-in
PawSteps · Teacher Page

Answer Key & Facilitator Notes

Spot the Style

1. 🦁 Lion · 2. 🦉 Owl · 3. 🐭 Mouse · 4. 🦊 Fox · 5. 🐭 Mouse · 6. 🦉 Owl · 7. 🦊 Fox · 8. 🦁 Lion

Body Language Detective

Shoes/shrug: M · Standing tall: O · Pointing/leaning: L · Eye-roll/huff: F · Whisper: M · Medium voice: O · Shouting: L · Sarcastic voice: F · Arms crossed "nothing's wrong": F · Nodding while listening: O

Owl's kind "no"

"No thanks, I don't want to swap." (first option)

"Owl way" rewrites — accept any answer that is:

honest about the feeling + names what happened + asks kindly for what's needed. Example: "I feel frustrated when my turn gets skipped. Can I have the next go?"

Facilitator notes

• Emphasise that NO style is "bad" — each is a habit that once kept us safe. Owl is a skill anyone can grow.
• Neurodivergent children may need scripts: practise 2–3 ready-made owl sentences until they're automatic.
• The role-play page is the heart of the pack — feeling the contrast teaches more than any worksheet.
• Adults: model it! Narrate your own owl-talk out loud ("I feel rushed, so I'm going to take a breath and ask for help").
• Pairs well with: Think It or Say It workbook · Calm-Down Cards · Taking Turns visuals.
PawSteps · answer key & notes
🦉🏆💬

Wise Owl Award

This certifies that

knows their Mouse from their Lion and their Fox from their Owl —
and can say what they feel and need, calmly, clearly and kindly.
Officially a Wise Owl communicator! 🦉

Signed
Date
PawSteps · certificate