Social Stories

Short picture stories about the everyday moments that can feel hard — what might happen, how it might feel, and what I can do.

One idea on each page
Feelings always welcome
Things to try, never one rule
Printable

Search for the moment in your own words — “leaving the park”, “haircut”, “hugs” — and read it together on a calm day. Each story has short notes for grown-ups and a print version for the fridge or school bag. How to use them

Understanding “No” — What “no” means, how it might feel, and what I can do next — including when a friend says no.

When Plans Change — I thought Dad was picking me up, but Grandma is here instead. What to do when a plan is different.

Waiting My Turn — My friend is on the swing and I want a go. How waiting might feel, and what I can do until my turn comes.

Someone Else Goes First — My friend is first in line today, and first in the game too. How it might feel, and why turns go round.

Losing a Game — My brother gets to the end of the board game first. How losing might feel, and what I can do and say next.

Winning a Game — I win the board game at the park. Feeling happy is okay — and how to be a kind winner when my friend feels disappointed.

Making a Mistake — A letter in my name comes out wobbly. How a mistake might feel, and what I can do: pause, ask, try again — or leave it.

Something Breaks — My tall block tower crashes down. How it might feel, asking for help, and what to do when something can or can’t be fixed.

Spilling Something — My elbow knocks my cup and water spills on the floor. Accidents happen — how it might feel, and how I can help clean up.

Someone Moves My Things — I made a long line of cars, and Mum tidied it away. I can ask where my things are and say how I like them.

My Favourite Cup Is Not Available — My green cup is in the dishwasher today. Using another cup — and knowing it’s still the same drink.

My Favourite Food Is Not Available — The shop has run out of my crackers, or the café doesn’t have my sandwich. Choosing another safe food, or waiting.

A Toy I Want Is Being Used — My brother is playing with the red car, and I want it. How to ask for a turn, and why his turn is his.

Leaving the Playground — Five more minutes, one more slide, then home. Leaving the park when I don’t want to stop, and thinking about what comes next.

Leaving a Friend’s House — When it’s time to go home from a friend’s house: saying goodbye my own way — a wave, a high-five or words — and knowing we can play again.

Stopping Screen Time — When the timer ends and the tablet or TV goes off: pausing my show, knowing it will still be there, and finding out what’s next.

Getting Ready for School — My school-morning routine, one step at a time: picture schedule, breakfast, teeth, shoes and bag — and asking for help is okay.

Going to Bed — My bedtime routine, why my body needs rest, and knowing that tomorrow will still be there. Worries can be told to a grown-up.

Waiting for Something I Really Want — My birthday is days away and it feels like forever. How big waiting can feel, and ways to help the days go by.

Someone Says “Not Right Now” — I want Mum to read with me, but she’s on a call. What “not right now” means, and what I can do while I wait.

Someone Says “Maybe Later” — Dad says “maybe later” about the park. What “maybe” really means — it could be yes or no — and how to wait and see.

Sharing — A friend is coming to play. Sharing toys means taking turns — my things are still mine, and special things can be put away first.

Asking Before Taking Something — My friend has the red crayon and I need it. Asking “Can I use that?”, hearing yes, no or later — and other people asking me first too.

Personal Space — At mat time, someone sits very close. My body and other people’s bodies, an arm’s length of space, and asking for space too.

Someone Does Not Want to Play — I ask a friend to play ball and they say “No, thanks.” Feeling left out is okay — and who else, or what else, I could play.

A Friend Chooses a Different Game — I want to build a tower, but my friend wants to do a puzzle. Taking turns to choose, trying their game, or playing mine for a bit.

Someone Disagrees With Me — I think sharks are the best animal. My friend thinks dolphins are. People can think different things, and we can both be okay.

Someone Changes the Rules — In the middle of a board game, my friend makes up a new rule. Asking about it, agreeing together, and getting help from a grown-up.

An Accident Happens — I bump into my friend by accident and they fall over. Saying sorry, checking they’re okay, and getting a grown-up if someone is hurt.

When I Cannot Fix Something — My party balloons pop on the way home and can’t be fixed. It’s okay to feel sad — and there are still things I can do.

When Something Cannot Go Back to How It Was — The big tree at the park has been cut down. It’s okay to miss how things were, and new things can become familiar too.

When I Do Not Win a Race or Prize — I run my hardest on sports day, but my friend gets the medal. How it might feel, and why trying still counts.

When I Get the Wrong Answer — I said my maths answer out loud and it wasn’t the right one. Wrong answers help my brain learn — I can try again or ask.

When the Teacher Corrects Me — My teacher shows me a different way to write my letters. Being corrected is how teaching works — it doesn’t mean I’m in trouble.

Asking for Help — My lunchbox is stuck and I can’t open it. Asking for help is a skill — I can put my hand up, use my words or show a help card.

Waiting for Help — I’m stuck, and my teacher is helping someone else. How to let her know, and what I can do while I wait.

Trying Something New — My first swimming lesson — it’s okay to feel nervous, to watch first, to try one tiny step, and to stop.

Going Somewhere New — A park I’ve never been to. New places feel smaller when I know the plan, see pictures first and stay with my grown-up.

Going to the Dentist — What happens at a dental check-up, how it might feel, and the hand-up signal that means “stop”.

Getting a Haircut — The cape, the water spray, the buzzing clippers — what happens at a haircut, and how to ask for a break.

A Loud Noise Happens — The vacuum, the fire alarm, the hand dryer — what to do when a noise is too loud for my ears.

The Room Is Busy — Lots of people, loud music, children running — what I can do when a party, assembly or shop feels too busy.

Someone Touches My Belongings — My brother is playing with my special teddy without asking. My things are mine — I can say “Please ask first” and get a grown-up’s help.

My Routine Changes — Swimming is on my picture schedule every Tuesday, but today the card changes. What to do when my routine is different.

A Surprise Happens — I get home and Grandma is there with balloons and cake. Surprises can feel exciting and too much at once — it’s okay to need a minute.

Someone Says “Stop” — When someone says “stop” in a game, I stop, even if I’m having fun. I can say “stop” too — and a grown-up can help if someone doesn’t.

I Need to Stop Something I Enjoy — When it’s dinner time and I’m in the middle of building: saving my work in a “later” spot and coming back to it.

My Idea Is Not Chosen — Our class votes on Friday’s activity. I vote for painting, but music gets the most votes. What I can feel, say and do.

When I Feel Stuck on One Thought — When the same thought or question goes round and round — say it, draw it, move my body, and let it wait in a “later” spot.

When My Body Is Telling Me I Need a Break — Tired, buzzy, too loud, tight — noticing my body’s signals, asking for a break with words or a card, and coming back when ready.

For grown-ups: how to use these stories

Each story follows the same gentle shape: what might happen, how it might feel, what it means, a few things to try, something to say or do, and reassurance — ending on “I am learning”. Every story has its own short notes too.

How to use it

Read it together on a calm day, not mid-meltdown. In the hard moment itself, fewer words help more: stay close, keep everyone safe, and save the story for later.
Read it again just before a tricky moment you can see coming: on the way to the park, the night before a haircut.
Make it fit your child: skip pages, stop when they’ve had enough, swap a detail as you read so it matches your child’s day, or read only the “I can remember” card.
Add your child’s first name on the story’s opening page and it appears in a line or two. The name stays in this browser and is never sent anywhere.
Use the story’s words in real life (“No means not right now”), and model them when you hear “no” too.
Notice tries, not perfect calm. Big feelings are allowed; the story is about what to do with them.

Good to know

These stories are for everyday disappointments and changes. They never mean a child should put up with pain, fear, unsafe touch, bullying or anything that hurts — telling a trusted adult is always the right answer there.
Nothing here asks a child to make eye contact, hug anyone — family included — stop stimming or stop crying. Crying and moving are ways bodies cope, and headphones or a break are always allowed.
Where a story says a grown-up will do something — stop when a hand goes up, give a warning, keep a “later” spot — make sure it really happens, or change that page. A signal that isn’t honoured teaches a child their words don’t work.
The aim is understanding and choices, not a quiet or compliant child. Asking “why?”, saying no to touch and disagreeing in words are skills to welcome.
Visual stories help many children and not every child. Adapt, skip or change any page. This is an educational resource, not therapy or medical advice.

More from Roo Bloom

50 stories. Nothing is scored. What has been read is remembered only in this browser. This is an educational resource, not therapy or medical advice.

All stories

Understanding “No”

When Plans Change

Waiting My Turn

Someone Else Goes First

Losing a Game

Winning a Game

Making a Mistake

Something Breaks

Spilling Something

Someone Moves My Things

My Favourite Cup Is Not Available

My Favourite Food Is Not Available

A Toy I Want Is Being Used

Leaving the Playground

Leaving a Friend’s House

Stopping Screen Time

Getting Ready for School

Going to Bed

Waiting for Something I Really Want

Someone Says “Not Right Now”

Someone Says “Maybe Later”

Sharing

Asking Before Taking Something

Personal Space

Someone Does Not Want to Play

A Friend Chooses a Different Game

Someone Disagrees With Me

Someone Changes the Rules

An Accident Happens

When I Cannot Fix Something

When Something Cannot Go Back to How It Was

When I Do Not Win a Race or Prize

When I Get the Wrong Answer

When the Teacher Corrects Me

Asking for Help

Waiting for Help

Trying Something New

Going Somewhere New

Going to the Dentist

Getting a Haircut

A Loud Noise Happens

The Room Is Busy

Someone Touches My Belongings

My Routine Changes

A Surprise Happens

Someone Says “Stop”

I Need to Stop Something I Enjoy

My Idea Is Not Chosen

When I Feel Stuck on One Thought

When My Body Is Telling Me I Need a Break

How to use it

Good to know

More from Roo Bloom

Haircut Pack

Dentist Visit Pack

Screen-Time Transition Pack