Social Stories

These stories are a way of providing reassurance, instruction, praise and support to young children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) about situations which might cause them anxiety or frustration because they just don’t understand. Social stories also teach children an appropriate way to respond to these situations. The stories are written or presented in language, terms and in visually appropriate ways for each child to best understand. They are used to answer many questions that a child with ASD or developmental delay will have – the how, why, when, what and who – about things that we may normally take for granted that our children will know or understand.

Examples of situations where social stories can be used are: a child’s skills at looking after themselves (toileting, brushing teeth, getting dressed, washing hands, taking medicine, bedtime), situations or activities around the home (telling the time, noises such as the phone ringing, dogs barking, thunder, relationships with family members, helping, playing), appropriate behaviours with friends (sharing toys, turn taking), going out and about (shopping, school, eating out, going on a bus), etc

A great reference for Social Stories is “My Social Stories Book” by Carol Gray and Abbie Leigh-White.

Social stories are written for individual situations.
Those set out below are examples only and can be more simplified if necessary, and should be developed in conjunction with staff.
 

Social Story Outline

General statement: Introduce the topic

Ann goes to lots of different places

List variety of examples/options

Ann goes shopping
Ann goes to preschool
Ann goes to the park

State goal

Sometimes Ann needs to walk across the road

State reason or danger

It is not safe for Ann to cross the road by herself

State feelings of parent or carer

Mum and dad get worried if Ann is not safe

State outcome

When Ann holds hands with a grown up to cross the road, Ann is safe and mum and dad are happy.

Each sentence or group of sentences can be typed in a large font. A photo or picture is required to match the information. Using a small, slide-in photo album, place the words on one side and the photo/picture on the other. Where the words are about NOT doing something, or something is wrong, a big cross should be placed next to the photo / picture to show this is not allowed. The stories are written inthe positive way rather than the negative (except for when an action or situation may be dangerous)

 

Examples

Having a Haircut

We all have hair. Our hair grows all the time.

When our hair is too long we have a haircut.

Sometimes John is frightened when it is time for a hair cut.

A haircut does not hurt.

Mum will put a cape/towel over my shoulders, then mum will turn on the clippers and begin to cut my hair.

The clippers are noisy.

They will only cut hair they will not cut me.

Sometimes I will wriggle or yell. This means the haircut will take a long time.

When I sit still the haircut is quick

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Quiet time

Sometimes I like to be busy, playing and talking.

Sometimes I like to have some quiet time.

Quiet time means I play with my special box and mum sits down to read a book and drink her coffee.

Quiet time means mum does not want any talking for a little while.


Sometimes when I am playing quietly mum might rest her eyes.


It is OK for mum to rest her eyes.


Mum is tired.


I can keep playing quietly with my toys.


When mum has finished her coffee or finished reading her book it is time to pack away.


Quiet time is finished and I can talk to mum now.


We can play together.


Mum is happy when we have quiet time.

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Shopping

Sometimes mum and Andy go shopping together.

Sometimes mum, dad, George and Andy go shopping together.

Sometimes they shop very quickly to buy a few things.

Sometimes mum needs to buy a lot of things and this takes a long time.

Andy can help mum choose things to put in the trolley.

When Andy is shopping with mum he needs to be safe.

Andy needs to walk next to mum so he does not get lost.

Andy needs to tell mum if he wants to go and look at the toys or books so mum knows he is safe.

When Andy goes away from mum in the shops mum is worried that he may be lost or hurt.

When mum has finished the shopping sometimes Andy may have a treat.

Sometimes there is not time to get a treat.

Mum is happy when Andy walks next to her when they are shopping.

Andy is happy too.