Writing Social Stories to Assist Your Child in Transitions
Social stories are positive means of ‘visualization’ for young children as they transition. I strongly advocate the use of social stories for children who are facing operations, travel, new schools, or any other transition that could potentially be a source of anxiety for children.
If your child is transitioning to South Hills, or leaving South Hills for elementary school, here are some steps to create your own social story to read to your child daily, beginning at least two weeks prior to the transition. (However, some children begin displaying anxiety months before a transition, so use your own judgment in this respect.)
Purchase a small photo album for your child’s social story, much like one Moms and Grammas carry in their purses as “Brag Books”. This will hold the photos and sentences of the story.
Take a digital camera with you on your visit to the school. Take pictures of each step of your visit, and include all of the important people, and begin your story at a familiar place, like your front porch! For example , take a photo of your child with a new backpack at home and begin your story. The photo goes in the front page of the photo album, and something similar to this underneath the first picture: “Kristen is ready to go to South Hills ! She is going to enjoy her new school and friends!”
Next page: a photo of the school from outside. “Kristen is arriving at South Hills with Mom and Dad. She is going to enjoy her new school and friends!”
Next page: a photo of Kristen at the front door of the school. “Kristen is at the front door of her school, ready to go in! She is smiling! She is going to enjoy her new school and friends.”
Next page: a photo of Kristen in the foyer of the school. “Kristen is waiting in the foyer until Mom presses the key pad for the security door. Mom has to remember the special numbers to open the door! Kristen is going to enjoy her new school and friends.”
Next page: a photo of Ms. Connie in her office. “This is Ms. Connie. She says good morning to Kristen. Ms. Connie is happy to see Kristen. Kristen is going to enjoy her new school and friends.”
And so forth, ending with Mom or Dad picking up Kristen and eager to hear about her day!
This type of visualization can ease a child’s fears and make the experience more positive since the child knows what to expect, and recognizes the people that s/he will be spending the day with. Please be sure to take photos of all of the teachers who will be working with your child—just ask us for guidance in that area! Photos of the playground are also helpful, as well as the bathroom, water fountain, and cubbies. The more a child knows about the expectations and routine, the less anxiety the child will have.
My staff and I are always available to help parents with these types of stories; please do not hesitate to ask for our assistance.
If your child is transitioning to South Hills, or leaving South Hills for elementary school, here are some steps to create your own social story to read to your child daily, beginning at least two weeks prior to the transition. (However, some children begin displaying anxiety months before a transition, so use your own judgment in this respect.)
Purchase a small photo album for your child’s social story, much like one Moms and Grammas carry in their purses as “Brag Books”. This will hold the photos and sentences of the story.
Take a digital camera with you on your visit to the school. Take pictures of each step of your visit, and include all of the important people, and begin your story at a familiar place, like your front porch! For example , take a photo of your child with a new backpack at home and begin your story. The photo goes in the front page of the photo album, and something similar to this underneath the first picture: “Kristen is ready to go to South Hills ! She is going to enjoy her new school and friends!”
Next page: a photo of the school from outside. “Kristen is arriving at South Hills with Mom and Dad. She is going to enjoy her new school and friends!”
Next page: a photo of Kristen at the front door of the school. “Kristen is at the front door of her school, ready to go in! She is smiling! She is going to enjoy her new school and friends.”
Next page: a photo of Kristen in the foyer of the school. “Kristen is waiting in the foyer until Mom presses the key pad for the security door. Mom has to remember the special numbers to open the door! Kristen is going to enjoy her new school and friends.”
Next page: a photo of Ms. Connie in her office. “This is Ms. Connie. She says good morning to Kristen. Ms. Connie is happy to see Kristen. Kristen is going to enjoy her new school and friends.”
And so forth, ending with Mom or Dad picking up Kristen and eager to hear about her day!
This type of visualization can ease a child’s fears and make the experience more positive since the child knows what to expect, and recognizes the people that s/he will be spending the day with. Please be sure to take photos of all of the teachers who will be working with your child—just ask us for guidance in that area! Photos of the playground are also helpful, as well as the bathroom, water fountain, and cubbies. The more a child knows about the expectations and routine, the less anxiety the child will have.
My staff and I are always available to help parents with these types of stories; please do not hesitate to ask for our assistance.
