Helping all children become happy learners

Social Stories

Introduction

Here you will find hundreds of social story examples covering over 90 different topic areas for use at home and/or at school. Happy Learners tries to support all forms of diversity and need. Thus, topics explored include those suitable for younger children as well as themes appropriate for adolescents and young adults.

Beliefs & Celebrations

Believing in God
Social stories explaining that some people believe in God and some people don't and that it is not OK to be unkind to someone because they have different beliefs
Fireworks
Social stories explaining why people celebrate with fireworks and advice on what to do if you find them too noisy or frightening
Halloween
Social Stories giving information about Halloween, dressing up, parties and trick or treating
Is Santa Real?
Social stories exploring beliefs about Santa Claus and social rules for communicating these beliefs to others
Politics
Social stories exploring political issues

Communication

Answering Back
Social stories explaining that answering back is not OK
Arguments
Social stories explaining the differences between constructive and destructive arguments
Asking For Help
Social stories giving advice on how to ask for help
Butting In
Social stories explaining when it is OK and not OK to interrupt a conversation
Calling Out
Social stories explaining why calling out in class is not acceptable
Correcting Others
Social Stories explaining why correcting others and particularly teachers is not usually OK
Cyberbullying
Social Stories exploring cyberbullying for perpetrators and victims.
Eye Contact
Social stories explaining the social rules for eye contact during a conversation
Fake News
Social stories explaining what fake news is and the risks of sharing it
Gaining Attention
Social stories exploring appropriate ways of gaining someone's attention
Indoor Voice
Social stories explaining the social rules for talking indoors in a conversational voice
Online Safety
Social stories giving advice on using online devices safely
Sarcasm
Social stories explaining sarcasm and how to recognise it
Saying Please
Social stories explaining that it is polite to say please when asking for things
Saying Thank you
Social stories explaining that it is polite to say thank you when when people do things for us
Shouting
Social stories explaining why people shout and how shouting can upset people or make them angry or cross
Telling Tales
Social stories explaining that sometimes we can be too honest and that it is not always necessary to tell tales
Telling The Truth
Social stories explaining why it is important to tell the truth

Feelings and Thoughts

Anger
Social Stories exploring anger and how to manage it
Anxiety
Social stories explaining what feeling anxious is and what to do about it
Being Wrong
Getting things wrong is a normal every day experience but can make us feel uncomfortable..
Bereavement
Social stories exploring death and the management of bereavement and loss
Catastrophizing
Social stories exploring negative thoughts about being an unfairly or unjustly ill-fated
Coping With Changes
Changes to the expected routine can be unsettling for anyone and these social stories provide advice for coping when things change
Disappointment
Social Stories exploring disappointment and how to manage it
Everyone is better than me
Social stories exploring feelings of inadequacy and insecurity when comparing ourselves to others
Feeling Down
Social stories describing how the ups and downs of life are quite normal
Hope
Social stories describing hope and how to develop positive optimistic attitudes
Jealousy
Social stories describing how feeling jealous is OK but being unkind because of jealousy is not OK
Loneliness
Social stories giving suggestions of actions to take when feeling lonely
Sadness
Social stories explaining how people express sadness and that everyone feels sad sometimes
Shame
Social stories explaining how people feel shame when they make mistakes
Suicidal Thoughts
Social stories about having suicidal thoughts
Understanding Blame
Social stories helping to explain blame and fault when things happen
Visualisations
Social stories to support individuals stay calm and relaxed by thinking about happy memories

Holidays

Holidays
Social stories exploring vacations

Medical

ASD Diagnosis
Social stories to help understand an ASD diagnois
Blood Tests
Social stories providing reassuring information about blood tests and why they are important
Body Dysmorphia
Social stories providing information about body dysmorphia
Coronavirus (C0vid-19)
Social stories providing information about Coronavirus and things that we need to do to keep safe.
Diabetes
Social stories helping to explain what diabetes (type 1) is and how it affects people
Going To The Dentist
Social stories about visiting the dentist
Going To The Doctor
Social stories explaining what happens when you visit the doctor
Injections
Social stories providing reassuring information about injections and why they are important

Personal and Hygiene

Being Gay
Social stories giving information about being gay
Body Odour
Social stories explaining what body odour is and ways of managing it
Brushing Teeth
Social stories explaining why brushing teeth is important for our health and our interactions with others
Changing for PE
Social stories explaining why it is important to change for PE and Games lessons
Coughs and Sneezes
Social story explaining why it is important to cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
Eating Healthily
Social stories covering healthy eating, eating too little and eating too much
Flatulence
Social stories exploring the bodily function of flatulence and the use of language to describe it
Getting A Haircut
Social stories to support those who feel uncomfortable having their hair cut
Getting Dressed
Social stories reinforcing messages about getting dressed quickly and without fuss
Having A Wash
Social Stories giving information about when we need a wash
Menstruation
Social stories providing information and support with managing periods
Picking Your Nose
Social stories explaining how picking your nose in front of others is not OK
Sleep
Social Stories explaining why sleep and a good bedtime routine are important for our health and well-being
Touching Yourself
Social stories explaining the social rules for touching our private parts
Urinating
Social stories explaining the social rules for urinating
Wearing Clothes
Social stories explaining why and when people wear clothes

School

Assembly
Social stories for supporting children with going into assembly
Homework
Social stories explaining why homework is set by schools and why it is important to do it
Playground
Social stories for supporting being in the playground
Rough Play
Social stories explaining why rough play is not allowed in schools
Running In School
Social stories explaining why it is unsafe to run inside school
School Uniform
Social stories explaining why a school may make its students wear school uniform
Transition
Social stories to support students with the transition to a new class or school

Sensory

Loud Noises
Social stories explaining how to manage intrusive noises and that it is OK to be different in how we hear sounds
Stimming
Social stories exploring sensory seeking needs
Temperature
Social stories exploring being too hot or cold
Trying New Foods
Social Stories exploring the need to try new foods in order to eat a healthy diet

Social Rules

Being Selfish
Social stories explaining behaviours that are selfish and how others may react when you are selfish
Being Teased
Social Stories exploring social rules of teasing and being teased
Biting
Social stories explaining why it not OK to bite other people
Body Shaming
Social stories describing why body shaming is not okay
Breaking Things
Social stories exploring accidental and deliberate breaking of things
Bullying
Social Stories about being bullied and being a bully
Double Standards
Social stories explaining what double standards are and why they are unfair
Getting Lost
Social stories giving advice and strategies for dealing with getting lost
Hitting
Social stories explaining why it is unkind to hit other people
Kicking
Social stories explaining that it is not OK to kick other people
Kissing People
Social stories explaining the social rules around kissing family, friends and other people
Lying
Social stories explaining the social rules about lying to people
Personal Space
Social stories providing information about people's need for personal space.
Running Off
Social stories about how running off is not OK
Spitting
Social stories explaining why spitting is unpleasant and makes adults very cross
Supermarket Shopping
Social stories explaining how to manage a trip to the supermarket
Swearing
Social stories about swearing
Throwing Things
Social stories about throwing things when angry
Waking Up Early
Social stories explaining what to do when you wake up early
Wearing Seatbelts
Social stories to encourage compliance over wearing a seatbelt