Social stories for teenagers can be helpful tools to learn important skills and navigate complex situations. The teenage years present numerous social challenges that can be overwhelming for many teens, including neurotypical high school students. However, older students with autism or ADHD may find it even more perplexing to navigate social rules and expectations that may seem natural to others.
Social stories for teenagers and autism little learners offer a valuable solution by providing structured narratives that help reduce anxiety, boost self-esteem, develop coping strategies, and develop essential teenagers social skills. These stories serve as effective tools to address different situations and various social scenarios for teens and parents, and provide guidance on appropriate behaviors and responses.
The teenage years present countless scenarios that some learners find overwhelming or confusing without guidance. Here are some reasons why they are great for teens and children of all ages:
By incorporating social stories into the lives of teenagers, especially those with special needs, autism, or learning differences, we can support their development and help them acquire the necessary skills for teenagers to thrive in various social settings.
Teens often find themselves in various social situations that can be both exciting and challenging. To help them navigate these encounters effectively, social stories can be a valuable written and visual tool. Here are some common situations for teens and how these stories can assist in managing them:
Job interviews require impression management skills. A narrative highlights professional attire, making eye contact, having relevant questions prepared, and a strategy for following up properly. This helps reduce anxiety around employment conversations. Social stories can break down the interview process into smaller, manageable chunks, covering topics such as:
Asking someone on a date can feel intimidating for teenagers. A social story can provide a step-by-step approach, beginning by guiding them in building the confidence to initiate the conversation, suggesting a specific date idea, and responding. An example story can provide guidance on breaking it down into smaller, manageable steps, including:
Peer pressure and offers of substances are common challenges for teenagers. These stories can assist in recognizing peer pressure, practicing polite refusals when offered substances, and suggesting alternative activities to maintain social connections. It can also assist by breaking down the situation into manageable components, such as:
Joining after-school clubs is an excellent way for teenagers to expand their social circles and explore leadership opportunities. Social stories can guide them in observing a club meeting, identifying shared interests, and approaching the club's leadership to inquire about joining. A story can illustrate how to approach this process, covering:
Social gatherings and parties require specific skills. A narrative can guide teenagers by breaking the process into smaller, actionable components, such as:
Collaborating on group projects demands effective communication and teamwork. Stories can break down the process into manageable steps, such as:
Interacting with unfamiliar adults can develop a teenager's confidence and poise. Social stories can guide them in starting interactions with a smile, making eye contact, offering a polite handshake, and initiating conversations by asking simple questions. A story can demonstrate the process, covering:
Crafting impactful these stories requires some planning and attention to detail. Follow these steps to create narratives that resonate with teenage learners:
With care and dedication to these principles, impactful stories can be crafted to benefit teenagers on the autism spectrum. Build skills through engaging, personally relevant narratives.
Developing social skills is crucial for teenagers, especially those with autism or other learning differences. Social stories provide a valuable tool to teach and reinforce appropriate behaviors and responses in various social situations. With continued support and guidance, we can foster the social development of autistic teenagers and help them thrive in their personal and academic lives as young adults.
Starting a conversation about some of the adolescent-related social situations may be awkward. The story can act as the conversation starter itself. Teenagers will look at it and it is almost guaranteed that someone will have a comment or question. This allows the students to initially guide the conversation. As the moderator, it will be easy to figure out what they may or may not already know about the topic and take the conversation in the necessary direction. This approach can be helpful in maintaining their interest in the conversation as well.
Adolescence can be a difficult age group to teach social situations to. Storyboarding allows for a fun, yet age-appropriate representation of adolescent scenarios. The ever-growing library of scenes and categories on Storyboard That also allows for a wider range of situations to cover the needs of the users.
If you are new to social stories, please read our introduction to social stories that covers the basics of and how to make effective examples.
For a closer look, please see all of our social story articles:
| Article | Description | Topics |
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| Daily Living Skills | Some individuals require explicit instruction on tasks that many of us take for granted. Make a personalized social story to engage the learner. |
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| Transitions and Unexpected Events | The unknown is scary for everyone, but unexpected events and transitions can be particularly stressful for individuals with ASD. Help prepare your student or loved one for upcoming changes with a social story. |
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| Social Situations | Social interactions can be very stressful for many people, with and without ASD. Make storyboards to show possible situations and outcomes. |
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| Adolescent Skills | As kids get older, their interests and needs change. Brooch potentially difficult conversations with a storyboard example. |
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| Social Stories in the Classroom | Social stories are also useful for whole group direct instruction of social and coping skills. Use a storyboard to address issues with both individuals and the class. |
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| Social Stories for Young Children | Young children often struggle with new concepts or big changes. Create a social story to help prepare even very young children for change or new skills. |
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It is a short, simple narrative that describes a social situation, skill, or concept. It is designed to help individuals understand and navigate social interactions.
They can help teens with social and communication difficulties by providing clear explanations and expectations for various social situations. They promote understanding and reduce anxiety in social settings.
Yes, they can be tailored to address issues such as bullying, conflict resolution, and appropriate ways to respond to negative behavior. They provide a framework for understanding and responding to social challenges.
Introduce them in a positive and non-judgmental way. Emphasize that they are tools to help understand social situations better and improve communication skills. It can be helpful to involve the teen in creating or customizing their own.