Script Library
50 Selective Mutism Scripts Kids Can Practice at Home
You know your child needs practice, but when you actually sit down to do it, both of you can go blank. That is why these selective mutism scripts exist. They are short, realistic, and grouped by real-life situations so you can grab the right one for tonight's practice. They are not about memorizing perfect lines. They are about making the words feel familiar enough that the real moment feels less scary. These scripts work best as part of a structured exposure plan — start with the complete home practice guide.
How to Use These Scripts
- 1. Read together first. Go through the script at home with zero pressure. This is talking, not performing.
- 2. Practice in stages. Whisper it, then say it quietly, then say it at normal volume. Let the voice grow a little at a time.
- 3. Practice the scenario, not just the words. Set the table like a restaurant or have a sibling play the cashier so the context feels real.
- 4. Never force a live attempt. Scripts are preparation, not a promise that today is the day.
- 5. Celebrate effort, not outcome. Getting halfway through the line is still worth logging and praising.
- 6. Adjust the words to your child. These are starting points. Use your child's natural speech patterns, favorite vocabulary, and actual routines.
Link each script to a specific rung on your exposure ladder. A script becomes much more useful when it is tied to a concrete brave target instead of floating around as general practice.
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Scripts for Home — Family
Home is the safest setting. Start here. These scripts build confidence with the people your child already talks to most.
Script 1: Asking for a snack
Setting: Child wants food between meals.
Child says: "Can I have a snack please? / I'm hungry. Can we have a snack?"
Keep the first version short if your child is early in the process.
Script 2: Asking to watch TV
Setting: Child wants a familiar show.
Child says: "Can I watch [show] for a little while?"
Use the real show name your child already says at home.
Script 3: Telling a parent about their day
Setting: Evening check-in after school.
Child says: "Today at school we did [activity]. I liked it."
Offer one starter topic so the script feels concrete, not abstract.
Script 4: Asking for help with homework
Setting: Child is stuck on one problem.
Child says: "I don't understand question [number]. Can you help me?"
Numbers make the sentence feel easier than a broad “I don’t get it.”
Script 5: Saying goodnight
Setting: Bedtime routine.
Child says: "Goodnight, [name]. I love you."
Ritual phrases are great starter scripts because they already happen every day.
Scripts for Home — Babysitters & Visitors
New adults in the home are a great intermediate step — familiar setting, unfamiliar person.
Script 6: Greeting a visitor at the door
Setting: Someone arrives at the house.
Child says: "Hi. / Hi [name]."
Practice the visitor’s actual name the night before if possible.
Script 7: Answering how school was
Setting: Visitor asks a low-stakes question.
Child says: "It was okay. / Good."
One-word answers still count as a win.
Script 8: Asking the babysitter for something
Setting: Child needs a drink or snack.
Child says: "Can I have some water please?"
Use basic requests first so the success rate stays high.
Script 9: Saying goodbye when a visitor leaves
Setting: Visitor is heading out.
Child says: "Bye. See you later."
Goodbye scripts often feel easier than hello scripts for many kids.
Script 10: Responding to “What are you doing?”
Setting: Visitor notices the child’s activity.
Child says: "I'm playing [game/activity]."
Keep the answer tied to something visible in the room.
Scripts for School — Morning Drop-off
Drop-off is one of the highest-anxiety moments of the day. Practice the exact words the night before. See the full school drop-off scripts guide for the full transition plan.
Script 11: Greeting the teacher at the door
Setting: Teacher is standing at the threshold.
Child says: "Hi, [teacher's name]."
Saying a name is harder than a generic greeting, so rehearse it separately.
Script 12: Responding to “Good morning!”
Setting: Teacher starts the interaction first.
Child says: "Good morning."
This is a strong early rung because the child is answering, not initiating.
Script 13: Saying goodbye to the parent
Setting: Transition from car or hallway into school.
Child says: "Bye, Mom/Dad. See you after school."
The goodbye line can be its own ladder target before the teacher greeting.
Script 14: Telling the teacher something
Setting: Child brought an item from home.
Child says: "I brought my [item] today."
Visible items give the child a built-in topic.
Script 15: Asking where to put something
Setting: Child needs direction on arrival.
Child says: "Where does this go?"
Questions sometimes feel easier than answers because they are more functional.
Scripts for School — Classroom Participation
These scripts help children build toward classroom participation one rung at a time. Use them alongside your exposure ladder and the raising hand in class guide.
Script 16: Answering a yes/no question
Setting: Teacher asks something brief and factual.
Child says: "Yes. / No."
Tiny answers are the right place to begin.
Script 17: Answering a simple factual question
Setting: Teacher asks for one known answer.
Child says: "It's [answer]."
Use subjects where your child already feels competent.
Script 18: Asking to go to the bathroom
Setting: Child needs a functional classroom phrase.
Child says: "Can I use the bathroom please?"
Functional requests are often easier than academic performance tasks.
Script 19: Asking a classmate for help
Setting: Peer interaction during work time.
Child says: "Can I borrow a pencil?"
Borrowing scripts are short, useful, and naturally repeatable.
Script 20: Responding to weekend talk
Setting: Teacher or classmate asks about life outside school.
Child says: "Good. I [did something]."
Fill in the bracket with one real event so the child is not inventing on the spot.
Scripts for Community — Restaurant
Restaurants are one of the best practice environments because the interaction is brief and predictable. See the full restaurant script guide for the step-by-step framework.
Script 21: Ordering a drink
Setting: Server asks for a beverage.
Child says: "Water please. / Can I have [drink]?"
Drink orders are often easier than food orders because they are shorter.
Script 22: Ordering food — single word
Setting: Child is in the earliest verbal stage.
Child says: "[Food item]."
One strong word at the counter is real progress.
Script 23: Ordering food — full sentence
Setting: Child is ready for the full ask.
Child says: "Can I have the [item] please?"
Practice the exact menu wording in advance if possible.
Script 24: Saying thank you when food arrives
Setting: Server places the plate down.
Child says: "Thank you."
Thank-you scripts are nice because the timing is predictable.
Script 25: Asking for ketchup
Setting: Child needs one more item at the table.
Child says: "Can we have ketchup please?"
Follow-up asks are a great next rung once ordering is easier.
Scripts for Community — Stores & Checkout
Stores are useful because transactions are naturally scripted. Both sides already know the shape of the conversation.
Script 26: Responding to “Did you find everything okay?”
Setting: Cashier asks a standard checkout question.
Child says: "Yes, thank you."
This is a strong starter because the words hardly ever change.
Script 27: Saying the total amount is fine
Setting: Adult mentions the price or asks for confirmation.
Child says: "That's fine."
For many kids this feels easier than initiating their own sentence.
Script 28: Responding to rewards card question
Setting: Cashier asks a predictable yes/no question.
Child says: "No, thank you."
The rhythm of retail scripts makes them great practice reps.
Script 29: Asking where something is
Setting: Child needs help in a store aisle.
Child says: "Excuse me, where is the [item]?"
Role-play this one while actually walking store aisles if possible.
Script 30: Saying thank you at checkout
Setting: Transaction is ending.
Child says: "Thank you. Have a good day."
Exit lines often feel easier because the interaction is already closing.
Scripts for Social — Play Dates
Play dates are gold for practice because the peer is known and the setting is often your home turf. Build these into your play dates ladder one small win at a time.
Script 31: Greeting a friend at the door
Setting: Friend arrives to play.
Child says: "Hey! Come in."
If that is too hard, start with just “Hey.” and the open door.
Script 32: Suggesting an activity
Setting: The play date has just started.
Child says: "Do you want to play [game]?"
Using the real toy or game name lowers the thinking load.
Script 33: Asking a question during play
Setting: The game needs turn-taking or decision-making.
Child says: "What do you want to do next?"
Questions can make peer interaction feel more balanced.
Script 34: Responding to a question
Setting: Friend asks what the child wants.
Child says: "I want to do [thing]."
Make the bracket match activities the child actually chooses often.
Script 35: Saying goodbye
Setting: Play date is ending.
Child says: "Bye! That was fun."
Closing scripts help kids leave with a success, even if the middle felt hard.
Scripts for Social — Birthday Parties
Parties are full of unknowns, which is exactly why short rehearsal lines help. Pair these with your birthday party prep plan.
Script 36: Greeting the birthday kid
Setting: Arrival at the party.
Child says: "Happy Birthday, [name]!"
This script gives your child a clear first job the moment they walk in.
Script 37: Handing over a gift
Setting: Child gives the present to the host.
Child says: "This is for you."
Gift handoff lines are short and concrete.
Script 38: Responding to “Glad you came!”
Setting: Host or parent says hello.
Child says: "Thanks. Me too."
Two tiny sentences can feel much more manageable than an open-ended chat.
Script 39: Answering food question
Setting: Adult asks what the child wants to eat.
Child says: "[Food] please."
Food choices are easier if the child has seen the menu or table setup first.
Script 40: Saying goodbye to the host
Setting: Party is ending.
Child says: "Thank you for having me. Bye."
A practiced exit can salvage confidence even after a difficult party.
Scripts for Phone & Video Calls
Calls are often easier because there is no direct eye contact. Use these for FaceTime with grandparents or other low-stakes family check-ins.
Script 41: Answering a call from grandma
Setting: Grandparent is on video or speakerphone.
Child says: "Hi Grandma!"
Start with familiar relatives before trying less familiar adults.
Script 42: Responding to “How are you?”
Setting: Standard opener on a call.
Child says: "Good. How are you?"
Predictable call scripts are great repetition practice.
Script 43: Sharing something from the day
Setting: Child is asked to tell one story.
Child says: "Guess what happened today…"
Prompt one topic in advance so the child is not generating on the fly.
Script 44: Asking a question back
Setting: Keeping the conversation going.
Child says: "What did you do today?"
Conversation scripts feel easier when the child knows there is a next line.
Script 45: Saying goodbye on a call
Setting: Call is ending.
Child says: "Okay, bye! Love you."
Closings are excellent early wins because they happen every time.
Download all 50 scripts as a free PDF.
How to Level Up — Progressing from Scripted to Spontaneous
Scripts are scaffolding, not a permanent crutch. The goal is to get to the point where your child no longer needs the exact words. You can usually tell a child is ready to go off-script when they complete the line quickly, add their own words, or begin initiating without being prompted.
Fade the support gradually. First remove the last word. Then remove the last sentence. Then keep only the topic and let the child generate their own version. Finally, all you might need is a thumbs-up before they walk into the moment. These scripts are the training wheels. The destination is a child who doesn't need them anymore — and they often get there faster than parents expect when the practice is consistent and tied back to the complete home practice guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I force my child to read the script aloud?
Never force it. If your child resists reading the script aloud, start even smaller — they can read it silently, then whisper it to a stuffed animal, then to you. Forcing verbal production increases anxiety and backfires. The goal is always to make the next step feel achievable, not obligatory.
How long before my child stops needing scripts?
Most children naturally start deviating from and eventually abandoning scripts within 2–4 months of consistent practice, once their confidence in a setting grows. Some children keep a starter line for a long time, and that is completely fine. The script is a tool, not a dependency.