Social Stories

Your child doesn't understand social expectations

Steps

  1. Before a social situation, create a simple story about what will happen
  2. Include: where you're going, who'll be there, what's expected
  3. Use simple language and pictures if possible
  4. Read it together before the event
  5. Review after: 'What went well? What was hard?'

What you need

Paper and markers, or a simple story template

Why it works

Children with Autism and ADHD often miss the unwritten social rules that neurotypical children absorb naturally. Social stories make these invisible expectations explicit and predictable. By rehearsing scenarios in advance, the child has a mental script to draw from when the real situation arises.

Age guidance

Works well for ages 3-10. Keep stories short (5-6 sentences) with pictures for younger children. Older children may prefer discussion-based preparation.

Real-world example

A parent created a simple social story before their child's first birthday party invitation: who would be there, what would happen, when they could leave. Their child read it three times before the party and managed 45 minutes — the longest they'd ever lasted at a social event. Small win, huge progress.

Troubleshooting

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