Helping Kids with Autism Navigate New Experiences: The Power of Social Stories

Children and teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often find unfamiliar or less-preferred situations challenging. Whether it’s meeting someone new, visiting the doctor, performing in a recital, or going to the movies, even exciting activities can bring feelings of worry or uncertainty.

One helpful tool Occupational Therapists use is called a Social Story. Social Stories are short, personalized stories that help kids understand what to expect in different situations. They’re written in simple, friendly language and often include pictures to support learning at all levels.

Think of a Social Story as a “practice run” — it walks your child through what might happen, how others usually act, and how they can respond. For example, a Social Story might explain how to ask for a turn with a toy, what happens at a birthday party, or what to do when feeling overwhelmed.

Research backs this up too — a 2020 study by Hanrahan and colleagues found that using digital Social Stories helped reduce challenging behaviors and increased expected social behaviors like taking turns, respecting personal space, and sitting appropriately during group activities.

Social Stories can be a great way to build your child’s confidence and help them feel more prepared and calm in new situations.

References

Hanrahan, R., Smith, E., Johnson, H., Constantin, A., Brosnan, M. (2020). A pilot randomised control trial of digitally-mediatred social stories for children on the autism spectrum. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50, pg 4243-4257.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04490-8 OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (April 23 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/