Introduction to Social Stories

Four-year-old Sarah loved school and wanted so badly to ride the bus to kindergarten. That summer, in anticipation of the year starting, she would excitedly ask about taking the bus. The first day arrived, as did the bus, right on time. Sarah froze with fear on her front steps, unprepared for the loud noise of the engine, the flashing lights, and how to engage the kids already on the bus.

Sarah’s mother researched and tried a valuable tool in helping people navigate difficult and new social situations: the Social Story. Here is an example storyboard for Sarah, and her quest to overcome her roadblock of riding the bus:

Most of us take for granted the social skill that is to anticipate how others will react, think, and behave in social interactions. Those who experience roadblocks often find it difficult to predict the actions of others, which sometimes leads to fear or erratic behavior. Topics offer a bit of distance between the person and the new or difficult social scheme, and allows for frequent social skills practice at the individual’s own, comfortable pace.

In Sarah’s case, she worked with teachers, speech pathologists, and her parents, with a fun story about riding the bus, until she felt comfortable enough to take the next step. It helped her navigate around her roadblock in her own time, and on her own terms.

What Are Social Stories?

Benefits of Social Stories

They are a versatile and effective tool that uses words and pictures to help individuals understand and navigate social situations. While they were initially developed for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), their benefits extend far beyond this group, making them a valuable resource for anyone facing social difficulties. Here, we will delve into the wide-ranging advantages of using these tools and explore how their long-term positive impacts can be measured.

• Improved Social Understanding and Communication: They provide a structured way to convey information, making it easier for individuals to understand complex interactions. By breaking down scenarios into manageable pieces, they can improve comprehension, fostering more effective communication with others. This benefit is not limited to those with ASD but is applicable to anyone who may struggle with others' cues, such as individuals with social anxiety or those in need of support in understanding unfamiliar situations.
• Reduced Anxiety and Stress: They can help alleviate anxiety and stress by offering a clear framework for individuals to anticipate and prepare for social situations. This is especially beneficial for people with ASD, as it allows them to predict what might happen, reducing the fear of the unknown. However, this also holds true for those who face social challenges due to various reasons, offering a sense of control and predictability.
• Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills: They can encourage individuals to think through scenarios, possible outcomes, and appropriate responses. This nurtures problem-solving skills and empowers individuals to handle social issues more effectively, promoting self-confidence and independence.
• Promoting Empathy and Understanding: They are not only for the person receiving, but also for those who write the stories. This process can encourage empathy and understanding among peers, caregivers, and educators. When individuals take the time to craft a social story, they gain insights into the perspectives and needs of others, enhancing their ability to support and relate to those facing difficulties.

Make Your Own Social Story

Many stories can be used again and again for different people, but likely you will want to have a more personalized social story to help specific individuals with their own personal roadblocks. A safety social story is meant to be instructive and safe, so it is important not to make a typical comic or too complicated. There are a few tips to consider to make it effective:

• Start with a Goal in Mind
• Choose a Specific Situation
• Maintain a Positive Tone
• Use Simple Language
• Tailor for the Individual

Start with a Goal in Mind

When you create social stories, writing about a given situation takes special consideration because the basis of the story comes from the perspective of the individual facing the roadblock. Determine the goal before beginning: what problem do you want to solve?

Is there a situation that causes her to act out or meltdown? Is there a scenario from which he tries to escape? Are there planned changes to a routine?

The answers to questions such as these make great subjects for social stories. Finding the underlying issue might require a little digging by interviewing teachers, friends, parents, and others with unique insight into the roadblock. Once you identify the problem, you can look for ways to address it.

Choose a Specific Situation

If an autistic child has severe anxiety over a change in routine, choose one situation, such as a dental appointment, and make a simple, but detailed, narrative. Be sure to focus on a few key points:

• Social Cues
• Appropriate Social Responses
• What They Might See/Hear/Feel During the Event
• What to Expect Other People to Say/Do
• What Might be Expected of Them and Why

For Sarah, the unexpected noise of the bus was difficult to process, and she wasn’t sure what to say to kids or the driver. A social narrative example helped her anticipate the normal bus noise, gave her suggestions of greetings for the driver and the students, and applauded her efforts for taking the step of riding the bus.

Maintain a Positive Tone

The goals of using social stories samples are creating a greater social awareness, offering a level of comfort and familiarity, and sometimes suggesting possible behaviors and connections. Encourage a more positive outlook and lower anxieties by showing the individual being successful and socially engaged. For stories that explain daily living skills, the focus is on the individual and empowering them to take action for themselves. Social stories examples that involve interactions with other people should be approachable and reassuring. In either case, use positive language to ensure the individual feels safe and can be successful.

Use Simple Language

Keep it simple and in the present tense, breaking down the scenario into as many smaller steps as necessary. Be very specific with possible actions and phrases.

There are four types of sentences used to tell social stories:

Descriptive Sentences	Address the "wh" questions: Who is involved? Where does the scenario take place? What is happening? Why are we here?
Perspective Sentences	Give insight into how others feel or what others are thinking. For example, "The other kids on the bus are excited about school and happy to see Sarah each morning!"
Directive Sentences	Provide response suggestions specific to the individual using the story. Give gentle directions like, "Sarah tries to..."
Control Sentences	Use as a reminder to help recall the information in the social story.

Tailor for the Individual

Social stories come in as many lengths, styles, and varieties as there are subjects. Depending on the age of the person reading, it may include photographs of the individual, or of actual locations or objects, for reference. Social stories for teens or adults, more complex pictures may be used, but keep in mind the need for simplicity. Images with busy backgrounds or intricate details might be distracting, and take away from the overall lesson of the story. When in doubt, keep it simple.

The free library of scenes and characters on Storyboard That is always growing, allowing for endless combinations. The characters are editable so they can be made to resemble the specific student(s) that the stories are created for. The creator can also upload their own images, which can be helpful for those students who require explicit visual representation (the car HAS to be a picture of Mom’s actual car).

Please remember for safety and privacy reasons, Storyboard That does not permit the uploading of photos of children under 13 years old.

Share the Social Story

The best time to introduce a story is when excitement levels are low and focus can remain high. Sharingwith family and friends generates a positive connection with the scenario. Developing confidence is the key to social story success in navigating a roadblock, so introducing a social story after a negative experience could be seen as a punishment for bad behavior, not working towards a positive goal. And, since the nature of social roadblocks may change, so may your story. Tweak as needed and often to keep current and relevant.

Whether the individual faces a common social roadblock, similar to Sarah’s fear of riding the bus, or understanding divorce, or something unique like maneuvering a specific doctor’s appointment, social stories offer older children, teachers, parents, therapists, and others a proven effective tool in the quest to provide individuals an insight and understanding of the social world.

Upload pre made stories that cover a different skills, examples, and lots of ideas at no additional cost. Storyboard That's social story creator allows you and your students to create your own social stories in your own voice. You can even use your own photos!

Frequently Asked Questions about Social Stories

What is a social story, and how do I use one with my students?

A social story is a short, personalized narrative that helps students understand and navigate a specific social situation. It uses simple text and visuals to explain expected behaviors and reduce anxiety. Teachers can use social stories before transitions, new experiences, or challenging social interactions.

How do I write a social story for a specific behavior or situation?

Start by identifying the target behavior or roadblock. Then, write a short narrative that describes the situation, the feelings involved, and the expected response. Include visual supports and use descriptive, perspective, directive, and control sentences.

What are some classroom examples of social stories?

Examples include stories about raising your hand, walking in line, taking turns, working with a partner, or asking for help. These help reinforce positive behaviors and routines throughout the school day.

What makes a good social story for kids with autism or anxiety?

A strong social story is clear, positive, visual, and tailored to the individual. It breaks down the situation into manageable steps and provides reassurance about what to expect and how to respond.

When should I introduce a social story to a student?

Introduce social stories during calm, quiet times—not immediately after a meltdown or stressful moment. Revisit the story regularly and before the anticipated event or interaction.

Can I use social stories with students who don’t have autism?

Absolutely. Social stories support all students who benefit from structure, visual cues, or emotional preparation, including those with ADHD, anxiety, or language delays.

What’s the difference between a social story and a comic strip conversation?

Both use visuals and simple text, but social stories are usually more structured and goal-oriented. Comic strip conversations are more spontaneous and focus on dialogue and thought bubbles.

How can I personalize a social story for my classroom?

Use photos of your classroom, real objects, or editable cartoon characters to make the story feel relatable. Choose specific scenarios relevant to your students and include their names, routines, and feelings.