What is it? A social story is a method of communication with the use of images to describe a given situation or concept. The message is communicated as a story with a clear message.
How to use it?
- Identify a concept or situation you need to communicate.
- Find some pictures or even a pre-created social story on-line. There are many available around ‘Going to the Toilet’ or ‘Washing your hands’. Or create your own social story including pictures of your child’s favourite subject, e.g. dinosaurs, numbers, etc
- Social stories don’t always have to be sequential images of a process. If you child is young and unable to sit or process a complex set of images, try these other options:
- A story describing the event, e.g. Peppa’s visit to the dentist, or Hey Duggee’s tidy up badge.
- Find a video on YouTube and play it in the background on repeat, e.g. a child riding their balance bike, a day at the beach, etc
- Act out a story with their favourite teddy or group of toys.
- Constantly communicate the social story, either by putting the paper images in the location of the activity (e.g. bathroom for washing hands), or spend a lot of time playing the video in your child’s environment (e.g. riding a bike, to get them aware and use to the concept)
Taking it forward
Integrate all the resources available to communicate a concept. Use images, video and sequences.
The aim is to help your child understand a concept or social way of acting.
Use your child’s interests, and your creativity.
Perseverance and repetition ensures understanding.