How to write social stories™

What are social stories?

Social stories are short stories describing a situation, activity or event and what to expect when it happens. They were originally devised for individuals with autism, but they are useful to use with anyone who needs encouragement and support to increase their understanding of how to manage social communication, specific situations and behaviours. Social stories can be written for children and adults.

How can social stories help?

Social stories can help develop self-care skills like brushing teeth. They can also explain how to ask for help or respond to a demanding situation such as a hospital visit. Social stories can be particularly effective when supporting an individual to cope with new, unexpected or stressful events. They can teach how to self-manage challenging behaviours too, including anxious, angry and obsessive behaviours.

How do I write a social story™?

Take a moment to consider the problem and your goal. Perhaps the individual does not appreciate that traffic can be dangerous, but you need them to be able to cross a road safely. What do they need to understand in order to stay safe? That cars can be dangerous? To hold a hand or arm before they cross?

Writing your story

Think of a road that needs to be crossed. Place the individual by that road. Write in the first person, from their perspective. Include things that interest them. Avoid anything that might make them anxious. Keep the words plain and simple. Keep the story short and relevant for their age and experience. Include images to reinforce your message.

Example

I like cars.

Cars drive on the road.

If a car ran me over it could hurt me or kill me.

I need to stay safe.

I stop when I get to the side of the road.

I hold an adult’s hand.

I look to see if any cars are coming.

I only cross the road when the adult says it is OK.

Is the social story working?

Your work is not done once your social story is written. Choose a calm, relaxed time to read it together. Constantly review whether the story has made a difference to the person’s behaviour by roads. Do they stop and hold a hand at the kerb now? Is the story working? Or, do you need to try a different approach? Would it help to include direct questions in the story? How about leaving blanks for the child or adult to fill in themselves?

More about social stories

Carol Gray invented social stories for children and young adults with autism in the early 1990s. She has continued to develop her guidelines on how to use them (see, The New Social Story Book™ 2015).

The terms 'social story' and 'social stories' are trademarks originated and owned by Carol Gray

Social stories offer a helping hand.