Skip to main content
← Back to the story

Spilling Something

Roo Bloom · Social Stories · roobloom.com

  1. Breakfast timeI am having breakfast. My water is in my cup.
  2. The water spillsMy elbow bumps the cup. It tips over and water spills on the floor.
  3. I might feel worriedI might feel surprised, worried or embarrassed.
  4. Taking a momentI can take a moment to let my body catch up.

    I could try… Take slow breaths · Squeeze my hands, then let go · Count slowly

  5. It was an accidentIt was an accident. Spills happen to everyone.
  6. I can tell a grown-upI can tell a grown-up what happened.

    I can say: “Oops! My water spilled.”

  7. I can help clean upI can help clean up. Mum gets a cloth and we wipe it together.
  8. If a glass breaksIf a glass breaks, I stay back and let a grown-up clean it up.
  9. I am not in troubleA spill is not a big problem. I am not in trouble.
  10. I am learningI am learning. Next time I can put my cup in the middle of the table.

I can remember

  • It’s okay to feel worried.
  • Spills happen to everyone.
  • I can tell a grown-up.
  • I can help clean up.
  • Broken glass? I stay back.
For grown-ups

What this story teaches

That spills are ordinary accidents, that feeling worried or embarrassed about them is allowed, and a simple routine: pause, tell a grown-up, help clean up — and stay back if glass breaks.

When to use it

  • When your child panics, hides or cries hard after spilling something.
  • Before a party, picnic or meal out where spills are likely.
  • After a spill went well, to name what your child did.

For this story

  • Keep your voice light: “Oops! Let’s get a cloth.” Your reaction teaches more than the story.
  • Keep a cloth your child can reach, so helping to clean up is easy.
  • Always handle broken glass yourself, and practise “stay back” before it’s needed.

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.