It’s no secret that reading with our children is a good thing to do! Reading promotes early literacy, expands kids’ imaginations, exposes them to new ideas, and helps us bond. Did you know that some stories can also help children cope with anxiety or overcome fears? In particular, Social Stories are a tool to share information about a new or frightening situation in a safe, comforting way. Initially, Social Stories were developed for people with autism in mind, but they can be helpful for any child.
For most of us, our daily routines have changed in response to the novel corona virus COVID-19. Kids are home from school, preschool, and daycare, and many parents are at home with them. We might not be seeing other family members or friends. Trips out of the house to even run simple errands have been limited. Like adults, kids may start to go stir crazy, and they also might be scared. Times are uncertain right now, and we need to talk to our kids about it. Social Stories are a great way to give your child age-appropriate information about COVID-19 and the changes to our everyday lives without scaring them.
As a Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (BHCOE), the Child Development Center has access to excellent resources like Social Stories through the BHCOE accreditation authority. We have shared some of theses Social Stories for you below, but did you know that you could also author your own?! Most Social Stories are homemade by parents or teachers and personalized to the child who will read them. You don’t need any special supplies or skills. In fact, you can draw simple pictures or paste them onto paper from a magazine. You can write or type the words. Check out the Social Stories we’ve shared. Feel free to use them with your child. They might also inspire you to make your own!
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