The Power of Social Stories

​​It’s well-established among early childhood educators and therapists that social stories work. It is a tool that has long been celebrated for its efficacy. Unlike classic fictional stories, social stories are written in clear, direct language and use real life images of the child-reader in situations that they have not yet navigated. 

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The imagery offers children opportunities to visualize concrete examples of themselves in novel, potentially anxiety-provoking situations. Being able work through and acknowledge any big feelings that may come up ahead of time, with a trusted adult by their side, can help instill a sense of control and remove some of the fear of the unknown. 

 

When the time comes for a child to take a tricky next step in life, they will be equipped with language to identify their feelings and simple strategies for how to manage them. Don’t forget - we can help children get excited for the positive things that come with big changes, too! In sharing social stories with young children, we are laying a strong foundation for security, self-regulation skills, and confidence to build upon throughout their journeys in life.