Social Stories
Social Stories™ (social narratives)
Created in 1990 by Carol Gray, an American teacher of autistic children, Social Stories™ follow a defined set of criteria — most famously that a story must describe far more than it directs. The goal, in the official wording, is “to provide socially meaningful information that is accurate and presented in a positive and reassuring manner”; better behaviour is a frequent side effect, not the aim.
When they’re used
- Preparing for a first: dentist, haircut, flight, new school.
- A recurring flashpoint with a misunderstanding underneath: fire drills, losing at games, sharing.
- An upcoming change: new teacher, new home, new routine.
Social narratives are rated an evidence-based practice (ages 3–18) in the 2020 NCAEP review, though most of the evidence comes from small studies — a low-cost, low-risk tool, best personalised. Our full guide, including how to write one: Social stories: what they are and how to write one.
Official source: https://carolgraysocialstories.com/social-stories/