Below you will find an interactive social story about going to school. The story can be used to help children prepare for a typical school day including their first day of school. You can also read this story with your child to practice reading skills.
Social stories are a research-based tool used to help children prepare for real-life events. They can help ease anxiety or set expectations for behavior in a certain situation.
For children on the autism spectrum, those with anxiety disorders, or any child that may be apprehensive about a situation, social stories can help them feel more prepared to go into the situation. Feel free to print this story out and read it several times with your child/client/student (without pressure). There is a print option below. Children can draw/write in the spaces provided once the story is printed out.
Feel free to talk to your child about the fact that no two school days are exactly alike and their day might differ somewhat from the story. Encourage them to talk or draw pictures about how their day might be different. The story gives your child space for drawing and writing.
Thank you for visiting educationandbehavior.com, a site that provides free support for all children in the areas of academic, behavioral, an social-emotional development. Many of our strategies can also be used to support adults with special needs.
For More Social Stories See:
- I Am Going to the Doctor to help your child prepare for doctor’s appointments
- I Am Going to the Dentist to prepare children for dental appointments
- I Am Going to a Restaurant to teach kids about restaurant behavior (please bare with us as we convert this story to a more mobile friendly version-right now it is in PDF format)
- I Hate the Word No to teach children how to calmly respond the the dreaded “No” word (already mobile friendly).
Please share this story to help other children get familiar with the routine of the school day.
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How to Motivate Your Students and Get Them to Listen to You (great for parents too)
How to Get Your Kids to Listen To You and Show You Respect
How to Prevent and Handle Temper Tantrums
12 Effective Strategies for Children with ADHD (great strategies for kids with and without ADHD)
15 Behavior Strategies to for Children on the Autism Spectrum (great strategies for kids with and without autism)
Academic or Behavior Problems in School: Info for Parents
Rachel Wise is a certified school psychologist and licensed behavior specialist with a Master’s Degree in Education. She is also the head author and CEO at educationandbehavior.com, a site for parents, educators, and counselors to find effective, research-based strategies that work for children. Rachel has been working with individuals with academic and behavioral needs for over 20 years and has a passion for making a positive difference in the lives of children and the adults who support them. For Rachel’s top behavioral strategies all in one place, check out her book, Building Confidence and Improving Behavior in Children, a Guide for Parents and Teachers.