Using
Social Stories to Teach Social Skills
Whenever
you are in the presence of families with young children, you hear moms and dads
reminding their sons and daughters how to behave. Effective parents recognize that understanding
how to read and react to social cues from others in the community often has to
be directly taught to their children.
This parenting challenge is magnified for those who teach children with
autism how to navigate the social world.
Being unable to follow the thought process of others is an inherent
characteristic of all autism spectrum disorders. All children need to develop social skills to
succeed in the world. Children with
autism need to be taught social skills more often, more explicitly, and
reminded of them before entering a social situation where those skills will be
needed. Using social stories embedded
with pictures can assist in the teaching of social skills to children with
autism spectrum disorders.
The
Many Uses of Social Stories
Routines
are comforting. Knowing what is going to
happen in any situation gives us a sense of peace and control. Children with autism spectrum disorders lack
confidence in social situations because they do not have the same natural
abilities as others to read social cues.
It is difficult or impossible for them to predict what will happen at a
social function, and therefore they do not know how to appropriately react to
what happens. Social stories can be used to outline the
sequence of events to eliminate the anxiety of the unknown. For example, parents of a child who has been
invited to a birthday party can outline the parts of the party (ex. first cake,
then presents) and use this timeline to
explain to their child what is going to happen.
Their child then has some idea of what to expect, and can feel more
comfortable participating.
Social
stories can also be used to prepare children for situations that their parents
know will be particularly problematic for them, like changes in a routine, participating in a church mass, or going to the mall to buy shoes. These types of social stories can include
suggestions for how the child could react to the events that trigger their
anxiety and frustration, such as the loud volume of a party or the need to
choose another item from the menu if the preferred item is not available. Social stories inform the child ahead of time
of what might happen and provide some suggestions about how to react to those
events. This preparation prevents the
child from feeling the fear of being caught off guard and gives him a
suggestion about how to react instead of leaving him, already frustrated and
upset, the impossible task of thinking of an appropriate reaction all by
himself. Instilling prior knowledge helps
to lessen and prevent negative behaviors, like tantrums, that will only isolate the child and prohibit social acceptance from the
community.
The
Power of Pictures
If a
child cannot read, parents can use pictures instead of words in social
stories. For example, if a child on the
autism spectrum has been invited to a birthday party but has difficulty
understanding how to react during present opening time, a social story to help
him understand that social situation might include: a picture of the child himself, a picture of
someone watching or looking , a picture of another child opening presents. This visual can be used to show the child
that at present time he does not open
the presents, he is watching another
child open the presents. A social
story designed to prepare a child to greet a friend at the beginning of a play
date may include a picture of the child himself, a picture of someone saying hello, and a
picture of another child, and a picture of two children playing with toys. Reviewing this social story will teach the
child to greet his friend before he begins to play with the toys.
Pictures
of an unwanted behaviors, like crying and kicking, with lines crossing through
them can be included to reinforce that the child that those behaviors are not
acceptable in social situations.
Conversely, pictures of positive behaviors and reactions to social
circumstances can be included and highlighted.
Depending on the child's needs and preferences, actual pictures or picture symbols can be used
in the social stories. Digital cameras,
the internet, and various computer applications can provide a source of pictures
to illustrate just about any situation or event. Written social stories for children who can
read and understand words can be used in the same manner and achieve the same
purposes as those embellished with pictures.
Preparation
is the Key
After
taking the time to prepare a social story to help a child on the autism
spectrum navigate a particular social situation, parents should review the
social story with their child in the days before the event. Bring the story in the car and reinforce the
message on the way to the function. Focusing
on the pictures will help the child understand the message of the social
story. Keep it simple by writing one
story per event. Do not try to explain
too many social cues, expectations, or nuances in one single story. Using the stories ahead of time and during
the situation helps him understand what is going to happen and how to behave
appropriately. The stories are also a
good way to initiate conversation about
the day's event and enjoy memories of the fun with your child.
The extent to which social stories
are used to effectively teach and reinforce social skills is based on a child's
needs and a family's commitment to producing and using them. Social stories can written in a general sense
to help children in a variety of social situations or can be specifically
targeted to reinforce one particular skill in one unique circumstance. Stories
written to explain infrequent activities of daily life, such as getting a
haircut or going to the doctor, can be stored and taken out when appropriate. Technology provides the opportunity to
digitally create and save these stories, making them subtle to transport and
easily accessible and use in the community.
The time it takes to create social
stories is a worthwhile investment made by parents who want their children to
learn the social skills needed to become functioning members of society. The goal of using social stories as part of a
child's education and development is to eliminate the need for the stories
themselves. The goal is to teach the
child social skills so he can be involved and accepted in the community, so he
can make connections with people and form friendships. The stories are a means to this end and not
designed to be used forever. The
possibilities are limitless for how social stories can be used to help children
with autism spectrum disorders understand the way people interact in the world
and how they can fit in and become part of their social community.
No comments:
Post a Comment