Morning time, significant routine changes, and transitions can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. One great way to prepare yourself or your little one for upcoming changes or share expectations and social norms is using social stories.
We’ve provided a few examples below, but you can also create your own!
For getting ready on a school day:
Arriving at school:
Feel free to be as creative or simplistic with these as you would like. Other ideas include:
- Take pictures of your little one reenacting each step and posting each step, in order, somewhere it will be seen each day.
- Slip a list of tasks into a page protector and use a dry erase marker to mark off each step.
- Write each step on a clothespin and have your kiddo move them from the “to do” side of a clipboard to the “done” side.
- Print out and laminate a checklist to be taped on a student’s desk. Again, a dry erase marker may be used to check off each task as it is completed.
Other tasks/situations you can create social stories for may include:
- Evening/bedtime routines
- After school/work routines
- Washing hands
- Using the bathroom
- Getting dressed
- Order of the school day
- Fire (or other) drills expectations
- Dinner routine
- Eating lunch at school
- Dismissal from school
The possibilities and formats are endless!
About the Authors
Apara Autism Center is a leading provider of ABA therapy in Texas. We understand the difficulty of dealing with uncertainty and are prepared to assist you with our collaborative developmental therapy support. If you’re looking for ABA therapy near you, we have centers in Houston, Dallas, and surrounding areas. Apara Autism Center employs a team of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT) that can assist you with resources to help comfort your child during stressful times. If you need more information, don’t hesitate to call (844) 272-7223 or contact us with your questions and concerns.