Social Stories for Kids: 20 Picture Stories, Templates and Visual Supports

Social stories for kids turn everyday situations into short, simple picture stories, so your child can see what will happen before it happens. This 35 page set gives you 20 finished stories, blank story templates for four or six panels, a first / then board, a schedule strip, and cut-out picture cards. You get US Letter and A4 PDF files as an instant download, and nothing is shipped.

It is made for parents, caregivers and homeschooling families who want gentle visual supports for transitions, new experiences and big feelings.

How social stories for kids make new moments feel familiar

A visit to the dentist, a first haircut or the first school morning can feel huge to a small child. Read the matching story together a few days before, and the place, the sounds and the steps are no longer a surprise. Each story uses six panels, each with a simple line drawing and a sentence or two told in your child's own voice, and every story finishes calmly.

Facing something the 20 stories do not cover? Use the story planner and the blank templates to create your own, with your family, your places and the words your child knows. On the day, the first / then board, the schedule strip and the 20 picture cards keep things predictable, while the feelings check-in and the calm choices page help your child name and handle big emotions.

Who will love this picture story set

• Moms and dads of toddlers, preschoolers and younger school-age children getting ready for something new
• Families of autistic children, and of kids who feel worried about change, noise or unfamiliar places
• Homeschooling families looking for simple picture stories that teach everyday life skills
• Grandparents and caregivers helping a child get ready for a new sibling, a visit or a trip

Calm design that prints well at home

• Elegant and minimal: white pages with soft blush pink touches that save ink
• Generous margins on all pages, so a home printer will not cut anything off
• Two portrait sizes: US Letter (8.5 x 11 in) and A4 (210 x 297 mm)
• Undated, so each story can be reused whenever your child needs it
• Simple line drawings with gentle pink accents that feel soothing and are fun to color
• Fits a binder or a clipboard, or have it spiral bound at a print shop

Inside the social stories for kids set: 35 pages

1. 1A cover page that includes a page index
2. 2What is a social story: the parts of a good story, when it helps, four steps for reading it together and room to note situations coming up
3. 3Writing your own story: four tips for writing, five sentence types with examples and a sample story told in six sentences
4. 4Story planner: what is happening, the time and place, the people you will see, eight numbered steps, the tricky parts, things that could help and a calm finish
5. 5Story 1, Going to the doctor: six panels covering the waiting area, a nurse who measures how tall and heavy I am, a doctor who listens to my heartbeat, and a hand or comfort toy to hold
6. 6Story 2, Getting a haircut: six panels covering the special seat, the cape, snippy and buzzy sounds, tricks for sitting still and a last look in the mirror
7. 7Story 3, A new baby in our family: six panels on why babies cry, grown-ups who are busy, being loved just the same and ways to help
8. 8Story 4, My first day of school: six panels covering the backpack, a goodbye, the new teacher, new friends, hand raising and being picked up
9. 9Story 5, Waiting for my turn: six panels on turn taking, why waiting can be hard, slow breathing, counting and a timer
10. 10Story 6, Loud noises: six panels about sirens, alarms and hand dryers, hands over ears or ear muffs on, letting a grown-up know and going somewhere quieter
11. 11Story 7, Going to the grocery store: six panels on a bright and busy store, helping push the cart, staying nearby and buying just what is on the list
12. 12Story 8, Going to a birthday party: six panels about music, games, cake and singing, presents that are for the birthday child and a quiet break when needed
13. 13Story 9, Bedtime: six panels walking through dinner, bath time, pajamas, teeth, a story and lights going down
14. 14Story 10, Washing my hands: six panels about the right times to wash, soapy fronts, backs and in between fingers, then rinsing and drying
15. 15Story 11, A car trip: six panels about buckling into the car seat, longer drives, books and music, plus stops for snacks and the bathroom
16. 16Story 12, Going to the dentist: six panels about a chair that tips back, a bright lamp, buzzy tools and lifting a hand to ask for a break
17. 17Story 13, When visitors come: six panels about the doorbell ringing, a hello that feels comfortable, a busy house and a quiet corner
18. 18Story 14, Losing a game: six panels on winning and losing, feeling disappointed, saying good game and enjoying play together
19. 19Story 15, When plans change: six panels on why plans change, the surprised feeling, listening to the new plan and looking at the schedule
20. 20Story 16, Sharing my toys: six panels about turns with toys, using a timer, and keeping special toys put away
21. 21Story 17, Trying a new food: six panels about looking at it, touching it, sniffing it, one tiny taste and a polite no, thank you
22. 22Story 18, Eating at a restaurant: six panels about waiting to be seated, picking a meal, waiting while it cooks and calm things to keep busy
23. 23Story 19, Bathrooms away from home: six panels on asking where the bathroom is, toilets that flush on their own, loud hand dryers and handwashing
24. 24Story 20, When I feel upset: six panels about where big feelings show in my body, choices that keep me safe, breathing slowly five times, a hug and a talk afterwards
25. 25Story cover template: a title line, a big space for a photo or drawing, and lines for starring, written by and read on
26. 26A four-panel story template with frames to draw in and lines to write on
27. 27A six-panel story template with frames to draw in and lines to write on
28. 28First / then board: two large boxes for a drawing or picture card, how to use it and helpful things to say
29. 29Visual schedule strip: a pair of strips with six numbered boxes to tick off
30. 3020 picture cards to cut out, for the daily routine (wake up, get dressed, breakfast, lunch, brush teeth, bath, story, bed), places and outings (school, car, doctor, dentist, haircut, shopping, park, party) and more (play, friends, quiet time, all done)
31. 3120 empty picture cards for your own drawings
32. 32Feelings check-in: eight faces showing feelings, a scale for how big it is, what my body feels and what I need right now
33. 33Things that help me: a dozen calming ideas, each with a picture and tick box, space to add my own and a spot for my calm place
34. 34My helpers: the grown-ups I trust at home, at school, in my family and when we go out, plus a plan for if I get lost
35. 35Story reading log: 13 rows to record the date, which story, the reader and how it went

What you download

• Social Stories Templates, US Letter PDF (35 pages)
• Social Stories Templates, A4 PDF (35 pages)
• Read Me First, a short printing guide (PDF)

How to download and print

• Check out with PayPal, a debit or credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your download page opens as soon as the payment goes through.
• We email the same private download links to you, so you can download your files again later.
• Open the PDF in a free reader such as Adobe Acrobat Reader and print at 100% or Actual size.
• Print only the pages you need, as often as you like, for your own personal use.

Good to know before you buy

• This is a PDF designed for printing, not a hyperlinked digital file. You can still import it into most note taking apps and write on the pages.
• You receive a digital download only. Nothing physical is mailed to you.
• Colors on your screen may look a little different once printed.
• The files are for personal use. Please do not share, resell or pass them on.
• Digital files cannot be returned. If a file will not open or print properly, email us and we will help quickly.
• Think of these stories as a gentle tool for parents. They are not therapy and not medical advice, and they are no replacement for the support of your child's teacher, therapist or doctor.

How this was made

Designed and written by PetiteDiary. AI tools helped draft parts of the text, and some background scenes in the preview images were created with AI. Every page was designed, reviewed and checked before release.

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