Who we are
We're a team of speech and language specialists - working to make Hull & East Yorkshire a better place
Who we are
We're a team of speech and language specialists - working to make Hull & East Yorkshire a better place
Who we are
We're a team of speech and language specialists - working to make Hull & East Yorkshire a better place
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MY NEW CLASS
PREVIEW
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05
What is a social story why are they beneficial?
New experiences and environments can be tricky for children to navigate. However, the adults can support children learn how to manage their thoughts, feelings, and actions in different social situations, especially when using a social story.
Social stories are an easy, effective tool that adults can use to help children learn to adjust their behaviour and emotions according to the situation they’re in. There are multiple benefits to using social stories with children including:
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Clear Expectations.
Straightforward explanations with pictures can improve a child’s cooperation and engagement with a task/event.
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Promoting Self-Regulation Skills.
A child’s ability to manage their emotions and behaviour is tied to fewer behavioural difficulties, higher resilience, and stronger academic performance.
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Simple Sequencing.
Seeing image-based stories in order and hearing words like “first”, “next”, and “last” can help children to learn to sequence events.
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Improved Social-Emotional Skills.
By explicitly talking about other people’s emotions, children can start to better understand how their actions affect others.
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Developing Theory of Mind.
Children can learn to take the characters’ point of view, and this can encourage empathy.
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Literacy Exposure.
Children’s narrative language skills can be improved by making the connection between real-life events and written stories.
Nicky has developed a range of simple social stories that can be used flexibly, allowing you to change the details and personalise the story.
Who should use a social story?
Social stories can be of benefit to all children!
Social stories can help children think about and practice a skill before the moment comes. This is why children who have delayed executive function skills can benefit from social stories as they can have trouble managing their impulses and choosing the most appropriate behaviours for a given situation.
As a general rule, kids thrive when having routines. Knowing what to expect helps children feel safe and secure and builds independence by giving them a sense of control. Reading a social story about a routine experience (like going swimming) can help any child feel more prepared, including those who have trouble with new experiences or swapping between tasks/events.
Social stories may also benefit children who have:
· Expressive or Receptive Language Delays
· ADD/ADHD
· Autism Spectrum Disorder
· Sensory Processing Disorders
· Behaviour difficulties
· Anxiety
· Auditory Processing Disorder
· Social Skill Deficits
Social stories can help children prepare for new experiences, like getting their first haircut or starting school. We’ll be expanding our range of stories soon!
When should I use a social story?
If possible, reading a social story a week or two before a new event or experience can be helpful for your child.
If you notice your child is struggling with a particular skill, they may benefit from the introduction of a social story. The pictures provide an extra visual clue that can improve their understanding of the words you use when explaining a skill or social situation.
How do I use a social story?
There's no right or wrong way to use a social story but here's our advice on how to get started using social stories with your child:
1: Find the social story that you want to use.
2: Read the social story with your child anywhere, anytime! Use the story as a guide for what to say and talk about.
3: Look at relevant photos/images on the internet or consider role-playing the scenario after reading the social story.
4: Re-read the story as many time as your child needs to review the event or skill you would like your child to learn and develop their understanding and decrease their anxiety.
If you are concerned with your child’s social skills or language skills, a Speech and Language Therapist can assess these areas and provide recommendations for support.
NEW Options can offer independent assessments if you have concerns and would like advice and support.