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Someone Disagrees With Me

Roo Bloom · Social Stories · roobloom.com

  1. Reading with my friendMy friend and I read a book about sea animals.
  2. We think different thingsI say sharks are the best. My friend says, “No, dolphins are!”
  3. I might feel crossI might feel cross, confused or upset.
  4. People think different thingsPeople can think different things. That’s okay.
  5. Helping my bodyIf my body feels hot or tight, I can take a moment first.

    I could try… Have a drink of water · Count slowly · Find a quiet spot for a bit

  6. I can say what I thinkI can say what I think, in a kind voice.

    I can say: “I think sharks are best because they’re fast.”

  7. I can ask what they thinkI can ask why my friend likes dolphins.

    I can say: “Why do you like dolphins?”

  8. We can keep readingWe don’t have to agree. We can turn the page and keep reading.
  9. We can both be okayDisagreeing doesn’t mean we aren’t friends.
  10. If someone is unkindIf someone is mean about what I think, I can tell a grown-up.
  11. I am learningI am learning that friends can think different things.

I can remember

  • My feelings are okay.
  • People can think different things.
  • I can say what I think, kindly.
  • I can listen to what they think.
  • We can disagree and still be friends.
For grown-ups

What this story teaches

That people can hold different opinions and both be okay, that it can feel uncomfortable to be disagreed with, and how to say what you think kindly, listen to the other person, and carry on playing without needing to agree.

When to use it

  • After an argument with a friend or sibling about who was right.
  • When your child finds it hard when someone thinks differently to them.
  • Before group work at school, if disagreements tend to end the game.

For this story

  • Model it at home: “I think it’s a bit cold. You think it’s warm. We can both be right about how we feel.”
  • Disagreeing out loud is a skill, not rudeness. Praise “I think… because…”.
  • If your child is being mocked for their interests, that is unkind behaviour to raise with school, not a disagreement.

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.