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A Comprehensive Guide to Social Stories for Children with Autism

Gene Simmons

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Published in Saying Hello And Goodbye: A Social Story For Autistic Children

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What Are Social Stories?

Social stories are short, descriptive narratives that help children with autism understand and navigate social situations. They are typically written from the child's perspective and use simple language and concrete examples to explain the social rules and expectations of a particular situation.

Saying Hello and Goodbye: A Social Story for Autistic Children

by Jim Ollhoff

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2318 KB
Print length	:	9 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

Social stories can be used to teach children a wide range of social skills, such as:

How to greet people
How to make friends
How to behave in public
How to handle difficult situations

Benefits of Social Stories

Social stories can provide a number of benefits for children with autism, including:

Improved understanding of social rules and expectations
Reduced anxiety and stress in social situations
Increased social skills
Improved communication skills
Reduced problem behaviors

How to Create a Social Story

There are a few key steps involved in creating a social story:

Identify the target skill or behavior.
Write the story from the child's perspective.
Use simple language and concrete examples.
Keep the story short and focused.
Include a positive ending.

Here is an example of a social story about greeting people:

When I meet someone new, I say "hello" and smile. I look them in the eye and shake their hand. I can say "nice to meet you" or "it's a pleasure to meet you." When I say hello, I try to sound friendly and polite. I like to make a good first impression.

How to Use Social Stories

Social stories can be used in a variety of ways, including:

Reading the story to the child.
Discussing the story with the child.
Role-playing the story with the child.
Using the story as a reference point in real-life situations.

It is important to be patient and consistent when using social stories. It may take some time for the child to learn and generalize the skills taught in the story. However, with repeated use, social stories can be a valuable tool for helping children with autism improve their social skills.

Social stories are a valuable tool for helping children with autism understand and navigate social situations. They can provide a number of benefits, including improved understanding of social rules and expectations, reduced anxiety and stress in social situations, increased social skills, improved communication skills, and reduced problem behaviors.

If you are a parent or educator of a child with autism, I encourage you to consider using social stories to help them develop their social skills. With patience and consistency, social stories can make a real difference in the life of a child with autism.

Saying Hello and Goodbye: A Social Story for Autistic Children

by Jim Ollhoff

4 out of 5