How to Write A Social Story

There are a number of reasons why you might decide to write social story: 

• Learn new routines
• Teaching functional skills, ie Hand washing, eating skills, following directions..
• Provide missing information
• Help children cope with and adjust to change
• Teach social skills
• To aid the development of appropriate behaviours
• Provide insight into what other people are thinking and feeling 
• To help them understand a situation, or event.  

 There is a wide range of topics that you might write a social story about - here's a few:

• Asking a question
• Eating at the table
• Safety
• Sharing
• Playing games to have fun etc
• Crossing the street
• How to be a good friend
• Visiting a new place (i.e Museum, Dentist, Hairdresser or School)

Here's a quick 3 -Step process to help with writing your social stories (I hope you find it useful!)

A 3-Step Process to Write Social Stories:

Step One -What to write about..? 

• What will this story be about?
• What do you want them to understand?
• What is the skill or behaviour you want to establish for your child?
• What do you want them to be able to do?

Step Two -Format & comprehension
Create a Profile

• What is your child's interest in reading?
• What is your childs ability to read and understand language?
• Write to their ability to read and/or understand? 
• Think about sentence length and number of pages
• Decide what media to use..  book, powerpoint/e-book, comic strip or video
• Think about what pictures, photos or icons to use that will improve your child's understanding of the story. 
• Here's a link to Broadmaker, a program with picture communication symbols, that you could use to help with your own Social Story!

Using Power point to create Social Stories is good choice, as it is reasonably simple and easy, you can edit as needed and either print into a booklet or let them view it online.

Step Three Writing the Story

• Do a Task Analysis, i.e. review the skill being taught, break it down into small specific steps the child needs to understand and perform the task, look at examples of social tasks that are broken down
• Write the steps into the story – remember the ratio for number and type of sentences to use

When you Read your Social Story with your Child -Here's a few tips:

1. Find a quiet place with the least possible distractions.

2. Read the story to your child. Other rehearsal possibilities are: a) have your child read it out loud to you or others, and b) have others read it out loud to the person.

3. Develop a consistent time schedule to review the story. For example, daily before the situation occurs.

4. After the story is mastered, keep it visible and accessible for student reference.

5. Once a social story is part of a child's routine, continually monitor its effectiveness. If necessary, rewrite parts of story to improve your child's performance.

Next Post.. Now you know how to write a Social Story - next will be a few examples of Social Stories.