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Free Social Story Template

A blank, printable social story template with eight picture boxes and sentence starters. Fill it in by hand, add a photo or drawing to each box, and you have a personalized social story in about fifteen minutes.

Short on time? The free social story generator fills in the template for you. Just type the situation and your child’s name.

My Social Story: ____________________

  1. Draw or glue a picture here

    My name is ______. Sometimes I ______.

    1
  2. Draw or glue a picture here

    When I ______, I usually see / hear ______.

    2
  3. Draw or glue a picture here

    First, ______. Then, ______.

    3
  4. Draw or glue a picture here

    Other people might feel ______ when ______.

    4
  5. Draw or glue a picture here

    Sometimes I might feel ______. That is okay.

    5
  6. Draw or glue a picture here

    When I feel ______, I can try to ______.

    6
  7. Draw or glue a picture here

    I can ask ______ for help.

    7
  8. Draw or glue a picture here

    When I ______, people feel ______. I am learning to ______!

    8

How to fill in the social story template

  1. Page 1, introduce the child and the situation. “My name is Maya. Sometimes I go to the library.”
  2. Pages 2 and 3, describe what happens. Write what the child will see and hear, and the order things happen in.
  3. Page 4, add a perspective. Explain how other people feel or what they expect: “The librarian likes quiet voices so everyone can read.”
  4. Pages 5 and 6, name the feeling and a coping strategy. “Sometimes I might feel bored. When I feel bored, I can look at the picture books.”
  5. Page 7, say who can help. Name a real person: a parent, a teacher, a therapist.
  6. Page 8, end on an encouraging note. “When I use a quiet voice, people can enjoy their books. I am learning to do this!”

Tips for a strong social story

  • Keep each page to one or two short sentences.
  • Use more describing sentences than “I can try to” sentences, about two to one.
  • Choose positive words: say what to do, not only what to stop.
  • Use real photos of the place and people whenever possible.
  • Laminate the pages or put them in sheet protectors so the story lasts.

Example: a completed template

Here is how the eight sentence starters might look once they are filled in for a child who finds the school library hard: “My name is Maya. Sometimes I go to the library with my class. When I go to the library, I see lots of shelves and hear quiet voices. First, we sit on the carpet for a story. Then, I can choose a book. The librarian likes quiet voices so everyone can read. Sometimes I might feel bored or wiggly. That is okay. When I feel wiggly, I can try to squeeze my hands or look at the picture books. I can ask Ms. Lee for help. When I use a quiet voice, people can enjoy their books. I am learning to do this!”

Notice that only two sentences actually tell Maya what to do. Everything else explains the library and how other people feel, which is what keeps a social story friendly instead of bossy.

Social story template ideas

You can use this template for almost any situation. Popular examples include going to the dentist, the first day of school, riding the bus, a fire drill, getting a shot, visiting grandparents, playing a game and losing, or welcoming a new baby. For finished examples, see our free social stories, such as the personal space social story and the potty training social story.

New to the format? Start with What Is a Social Story?