How to Write Social Stories

In order to teach your child social skills, it is a good idea to use your available resources. This may be expensive but one thing is for sure, you can easily create your own resources. A social story is a good example of a cheap available resource.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet
• Printer
• Paper
• Crayons/Markers
• Creativity

1. Choose the situation that you wish to teach your child about. It can range from playing in the park to greeting people in the mall. Whatever you feel your child needs to work on is the right situation for your story.

2. There are two choices for finding and using social stories, online or your own. You can easily search online for social stories or you can create your own. It is often easier to create your own because the internet may not have the 'actual' situation you are looking for. Although it may be less time consuming if you find one online to use.

3. Once you have decided to make your own or find one online, you may begin. It also may be a good example to use an online example as a template for creating your own social story. It is a good idea to create your social story using your child's name. It may also be helpful to create a previous situation that went wrong and that you wish to teach the appropriate behavior for now.

4. Once you have created your social story or found a suitable fit online, you need to create a time frame for a week or so and use that time to teach and go over the social story. Along with the social story, you can act out and role play the situation and some situations related to it. Use this social story and role play until the child understands and comprehends the appropriate actions that should be taken. Then it is a good idea, once the child is ready, to create that situation and allow the child to use his/her taught skills.

Tips & Warnings

• Only you and your child will know how long to continue going over the social story and role playing the situation.
• Do not rush things and throw the child into the situation.
• Use many social stories to teach the different situations in which your child needs to be taught about.
• Do not rush things and throw the child into the situation. This will not accomplish anything.

[JoyNmyHeart]

on 10/3/2009 Very interesting article on writing social stories and teaching our kids lessons.

[Mindee94]

on 9/4/2009 Great tips! However some of us need to err on the side of caution when sharing our own experiences... the words 'careful editing' enter my mind. Seriously though... Social stories are an excellent tool for making the 'lesson' stick. It isn't about preaching but rather learning from others mistakes. Stars to you! ~Mindee