New haircut? First day of school? A trip to the dentist? For a child who finds the unfamiliar overwhelming, a social story can turn a scary unknown into something they've already “practiced.” It's a simple, gentle tool, and you can make one yourself.
What is a social story?
A social story is a short, personalized story — told from the child's point of view — that describes a situation, what will happen, and what they can do or expect. Originally developed to support autistic children, social stories help many kids prepare for new experiences, understand social expectations, and learn a new routine.
Why they help
- Predictability lowers anxiety — the child knows what's coming.
- They teach social expectations and skills in a concrete, calm way.
- They can be read ahead of time and re-read as often as needed.
- They focus on what to do, not just what to avoid.
How to write one
- Pick one specific situation (a haircut, sharing toys, a fire drill).
- Write short, positive, first-person sentences (“When I get a haircut, I sit in the big chair.”).
- Describe what will happen, how the child might feel, and what they can do.
- Add simple photos or pictures.
- Read it together calmly, ahead of time — and again before the event.
Social stories help lots of children, autistic or not. They work best as preparation and teaching — read in calm moments, not in the middle of a meltdown.
Want help supporting your child through hard situations? Our ABA, speech, and OT teams can guide you.
When to get support
If your child consistently struggles with transitions, anxiety, or social situations, ABA can be a real help. ABA takes tools like social stories — simple pictures and scripts that teach children what to expect in new or stressful situations — and pairs them with hands-on practice, breaking social moments into positive, predictable steps so your child feels safe, confident, and ready for what comes next. Our ABA program is accepting a limited number of preschool-aged children in select area preschools; our speech and occupational therapy teams are also accepting new families for the communication and regulation side.