Navigating Life's Moments: Social Stories for Effective Communication with Autistic Children

Social stories are used to teach Autistic children about the appropriate behavior expected in specific settings. Those who are autistic frequently misinterpret or miss social signs such as body language, facial expressions, gestures, and eye contact.

What are social stories?

Children with autism can learn socially acceptable conduct and responses by listening to social stories that explain social situations. These tales have various names, including social narratives, social scripts, and story-based interventions. Social stories are used to teach Autistic children about the social behavior that’s expected in specific settings like the playground, school, traveling, and so on.

These stories were developed as a way for Autistic children to learn how they should behave in social settings. Social stories accomplish this by explicitly emphasizing:

Details and specifics about the setting
What typically happens in that setting?
What kind of actions or behavior are expected from children in that particular setting?

Children may benefit from being able to recognize indications that they otherwise might not. With its assistance, children can learn new skills and manage challenging behaviors.

How do social stories help Autistic children?

By providing information about what might happen in a particular situation and some guidelines for behavior, we can increase structure in an autistic child’s life and thereby reduce anxiety.

You can better comprehend how an autistic person sees the world by creating or using a social tale.

Research shows that social stories can have positive effects on the behavior of autistic children. They might be more successful in helping kids control challenging behavior than in teaching them specific social skills.

Social stories can be used to:

Develop self-care skills: How to clean teeth, wash hands, or get dressed)
Social skills: Sharing, asking for help, saying thank you, interrupting
Academic abilities
To assist someone in comprehending how others could act or react in a specific circumstance.
Assist others in comprehending an autistic person's point of view and the reasons behind why they would react or behave in a certain manner.
Assist someone in handling disruptions in their routine and upsetting or unexpected situations. blackouts, a teacher not being present, and moving
Give someone affirming feedback regarding strength or accomplishment in order to boost their self-esteem.
As a behavioral strategy: What to do when angry, how to cope with obsessions).

Steps to create a social story

A psychologist or speech therapist will first conduct a thorough evaluation of each child to pinpoint the main areas of concern.

The therapist then creates a social story based on a specific problem area or circumstance.

The narrative is written in the first or third person, and it can be tensed in the past, present, or future. For instance, "I go to the shop" or "We shall sit in the waiting area" are examples of first-person narratives.

The language used in the story is appropriate for the child's age and level of development. The book containing the story may be printed or digital. It can include photos or illustrations.

An adult reads a social narrative aloud to a youngster after it is finished to make sure the child can comprehend it. The stories are typically read immediately before the event they portray.

Every morning, for instance, a parent and child might read a tale together on how to behave on the school playground, and a teacher might do the same right before the kid goes outside to play.

Once the child understands the social situation or learns the social behavior and does it without prompting from adults, the story can be read less often and gradually phased out.

How to write a social story

Picture the goal

Consider the social story's purpose. To teach a toddler to cover their mouth when coughing, for instance, might be the aim.

Now consider the knowledge the youngster will require to fulfill this objective. For instance, they must comprehend the need of covering their mouths when coughing.

Gather information

The situation you wish to describe in your social story deserves knowledge, so gather it. Where does the situation occur? Who is it with? How does it begin and end? How long does it last? What really occurs in the circumstance, and why?

Include phrases like "sometimes" and "usually" in the story if it pertains to a circumstance where a specific result is not assured.

Stories should refrain from employing language that could frighten or upset the reader. Social stories should be presented in a way that is appropriate for the person's age and level of comprehension. Use age-appropriate photographs, picture symbols, or drawings with text to help people who have difficulty reading or younger children.

Find out the person's age, hobbies, attention span, level of aptitude, and level of understanding.

Customize the text of the social story

A social story needs to have a title, introduction, body, and conclusion. It should be written in a kind and encouraging tone.

The six questions of where, when, who, what, how, and why should all be addressed. It should be composed of instructive statements as well as descriptive ones.

A descriptive phrase effectively conveys the context, including the setting, the people involved, what happened, and why.

How to use social stories effectively

Consider strategies to improve comprehension. Would adding questions or leaving some text blank for the reader to fill in help?
Look for ways to bolster the narrative, such as making a poster that includes a significant phrase.
Determine where and how often you will tell the person the story.
Convey the social story to the individual when everyone is at their most at ease.
Monitor how well the story is received and whether it is working as intended.