How to Write a Social Story for Your Child

A social story helps a child know what to expect before something new or hard happens. It is short, calm and personal, and you can make one yourself with a few photos and simple sentences. Here is what a social story is, when to use one, and how to write it, with examples.

What is a social story?

A social story is a short, personalized story that explains a situation, what usually happens, and what the child can do. The format was developed by Carol Gray, and parents and teachers have used it widely since.

Instead of telling a child "be good at the dentist," a social story walks through the visit: where you'll go, who will be there, what the chair feels like, what the dentist will do, and what the child can do if they feel worried. Knowing the steps ahead of time can make a new situation feel more familiar.

Social stories are often used with autistic children and kids who find change or new places hard, but many children benefit from a story that shows them what is coming.

A note before you start: a social story is not therapy or medical advice. If your child has a teacher, therapist or other specialist, follow their guidance and ask whether they have a preferred approach. Many are happy to help you shape the story.

When do parents and teachers use social stories?

Any time a situation is new, changing, or tends to be stressful. Common examples:

• Doctor and dentist visits. The waiting room, the check-up, a shot.
• Haircuts. The cape, the sound of clippers, water spray.
• New routines. A new bedtime routine, a new morning schedule, potty training.
• Transitions. Starting school or daycare, a new classroom, moving to a new house.
• Family changes. A new baby, a visiting relative, a parent traveling.
• Outings. A first airplane trip, a birthday party, a fire drill at school.
• Social moments. Taking turns, saying hello, what to do when a friend says no.

Pick one situation per story. A focused story is easier to understand and easier to reread.

How do you write a social story?

These guidelines keep a social story clear and reassuring:

• Write in first person. Use "I" so the child sees themselves in it: "I go to the barber shop."
• Use present tense. "The barber puts a cape on me" reads as what happens, not a story about someone else.
• Be positive. Describe what the child can do, not what they shouldn't. "I can hold my bunny" rather than "I won't cry."
• Be literal. Skip idioms and jokes that could confuse. Say exactly what happens.
• Describe more than you direct. Most sentences should explain what happens and why. Use only a few that suggest what the child might do.
• Leave room for change. Words like "usually" and "sometimes" help if the day doesn't go exactly as written: "Usually the dentist counts my teeth."
• Use photos of the real place. A picture of the actual clinic, classroom or barber chair makes the story concrete. Photos of your child doing each step are even better.
• Keep it short. One or two sentences per page and a handful of pages.

Social story examples: sentences you can use

Here is how a short social story about a haircut might read, one line per page:

Sometimes my hair gets long. Then I go to the barber shop.

The barber shop has a big chair. I sit in the chair.

The barber puts a cape on me. The cape keeps hair off my clothes.

The clippers make a buzzing sound. The buzzing is loud, but it does not hurt.

If I feel worried, I can squeeze my bunny or hold Mom's hand.

When the haircut is done, the barber takes off the cape. My hair is short and neat.

And a few sentences for other situations:

• Doctor visit: "The nurse puts a cuff on my arm. It squeezes for a little while, then it stops."
• New classroom: "My new teacher is Ms. Lopez. She will show me where to put my backpack."
• Fire drill: "Sometimes the fire alarm rings at school. It is loud. My class walks outside together, and then we go back in."
• Taking turns: "My friend and I both want the swing. We can take turns. I can count to ten while I wait."

Notice the pattern: what happens, why it happens or how it feels, and one simple thing the child can do.

Step by step: make a social story in makeabook.fun

A printed social story is something your child can hold, flip through and reread as many times as they need. You can make one for free in your browser with no sign-up.

1. Take photos. If you can, photograph the real place ahead of time: the building outside, the waiting room, the chair, the people. Photos of your child walking through the steps work well too.
2. Write the sentences first. List the steps in order, then write one or two sentences for each using the guidelines above.
3. Open a blank book. Go to makeabook.fun/make/#new=blank for twelve empty pages. It works on a phone, tablet or computer.
4. Add a photo and a sentence to each page. The "picture with words below" layout keeps things clear and predictable. Drag to reposition and zoom a photo so the important part shows.
5. Pick a readable font. Andika is designed for children learning to read and has clear, simple letter shapes.
6. Keep colors calm. Set the page and lettering colors to something easy on the eyes.
7. Title the cover plainly. Something like "I Go to the Dentist," with your child's name as the author or in the subtitle.
8. Read it together in the flip-through reader, then print it.

Your book saves in your browser on that device, and nothing is uploaded, so we never see your photos. That matters when the pictures show your child, your home or their school. To move the book to another device, download the Backup file.

How do you print and use a social story?

The free print-at-home PDF is full color, with each page centered on US Letter or A4 paper and small corner trim marks. If you want a sturdier, smaller book, the $2.99 keepsake edition adds a fold-and-staple booklet layout: print double-sided, flip on the short edge, fold the stack and staple on the fold. Our guide to printing a picture book at home covers paper, printer settings and binding.

A few tips for using it:

• Read it a few days ahead, and again right before the event.
• Read it at calm times, not in the middle of a hard moment.
• Bring it along if it helps, like to the waiting room.
• Update it if something changes. Edit the page and print a fresh copy.
• Share it with teachers or caregivers so everyone uses the same words.

If the change is starting school, an all about me book can be a nice companion: it helps a new teacher get to know your child, too.