Social Stories

Social stories are short, simple narratives designed to help children understand and navigate specific situations, events, or experiences. These stories are especially helpful for children who may feel anxious or uncertain about new or challenging environments, such as visiting an occupational therapy clinic or starting school.

Category
Age
Gender
Location
Format
Type
Free or paid
Audience
Clear filters
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Social Skills

How to Write a Social Story

Paid
See only free resources
Upgrade to download
Upgrade to download
Upgrade to download
Upgrade to download
Social Skills

Personalized Social Story for the First Day of School

Free
See only free resources
Upgrade to download
Upgrade to download
Upgrade to download
Upgrade to download
Social Skills

Social Story for the First Day of School

Paid
See only free resources
Upgrade to download
Upgrade to download
Upgrade to download
Upgrade to download
Social Skills

Personalized Social Story of First Visit to an Occupational Therapist

Free
See only free resources
Upgrade to download
Upgrade to download
Upgrade to download
Upgrade to download
Social Skills

Social Story of First Visit to an Occupational Therapist

Free
See only free resources
Upgrade to download
Upgrade to download
Upgrade to download
Upgrade to download

What are Social Stories?

Social stories are simple, personalized narratives designed to help children understand and navigate specific situations, events, or interactions. These stories provide clear explanations of what to expect and how to respond, making new or challenging experiences feel more manageable.

Social stories are often used to prepare children for events such as visiting a doctor, attending their first day of school, or understanding social interactions like taking turns or making friends. By breaking situations into easy-to-understand steps, social stories help children feel more confident and prepared for the world around them. 📝

Why Are Social Stories Important? 🌟

Social stories provide children with a clear and structured way to prepare for unfamiliar situations, offering several benefits:

  • Reduce Anxiety: Help children know what to expect, reducing fear of the unknown.
  • Build Confidence: Equip children with strategies to handle specific scenarios.
  • Teach Social Expectations: Clarify appropriate behaviors and responses in different settings.
  • Enhance Understanding: Break down complex events into manageable steps.

For example, a social story about visiting the occupational therapy clinic might describe who they’ll meet, what activities they’ll do, and how they can ask questions if they feel unsure.

Who Can Benefit from Social Stories? 🤔

Social stories can be used for a variety of children, including:

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Help prepare for transitions, new routines, or social interactions.

Children with Anxiety

Provide reassurance by explaining what to expect in new environments.

Children with Learning or Developmental Delays

Offer step-by-step guidance for understanding and navigating daily situations.

Children Facing New Experiences

Useful for any child adapting to a new setting, such as starting school or visiting a doctor.

Goals and Progress with Social Stories 🎯

The effectiveness of social stories is measured by observing how well children adapt to the situations described in the story. Progress is tracked by:

  • Watching for reduced anxiety or hesitation in new environments.
  • Noticing improved understanding and appropriate behaviors.
  • Feedback from caregivers, teachers, or therapists on the child’s adjustment.

Benefits of Social Stories 🎉

  • Promote Emotional Security: Prepare children for new experiences, reducing uncertainty and stress.
  • Improve Social Skills: Teach appropriate behaviors and responses in different settings.
  • Enhance Communication: Help children express their thoughts, feelings, and questions more effectively.
  • Foster Independence: Equip children with the knowledge to navigate new situations confidently.

By using social stories, children gain tools to better understand the world around them and thrive in various environments. 📚✨

Can’t find what you’re looking for?

Request a resource and we’ll make it for you.

Request a resource
Request a resource