You know how social stories are commonly associated with special education classrooms and children with disabilities? They’re often used for children with autism. Right? Today, I want to talk to you about something that’s been on my mind lately – the incredible power of social stories for toddlers.
Social stories are very beneficial for autistic children and definitely should be used to encourage the development of their skills. However, I believe they are also beneficial for toddlers! Social stories provide opportunities for social-emotional development and they encourage the development of communication skills.
Why Social Stories?
A big advantage of social stories is that they provide opportunities for toddlers to understand early social-emotional skills while developing their communication. Toddlers can learn about sharing, taking turns, being brave, and how to be a good friend. They encourage communication by offering examples of responses to situations, ways to ask for help, and how to communicate their feelings.
Additionally, social stories encourage early conflict-resolution skills. It’s like giving toddlers a head start in navigating the social world. Who doesn’t want that?! Another way they can be beneficial is by providing tips for starting preschool, toddler potty training, going to the dentist, or even attending a family event.
Tools for Communication
Social stories expose toddlers to new skills and explain new experiences. Using them in your practice with toddlers can also help to prevent challenging behaviors that may arise due to communication difficulties or social misunderstandings. By providing toddlers with clear and concise narratives, social stories can help to reduce anxiety and encourage alternative behaviors. Essentially, versatile tools can be used to support all toddlers in developing appropriate communication skills.
Basically, social stories are a game-changer, my friend. They’re definitely a must-have for early childhood education. In other words, you can encourage families to start reading social stories to their toddlers now!
