Safety, Building Independence, Communication, Social Skills

Using Social Stories to Teach Internet Safety Skills to Teens

As technology advances, it is more important than ever for parents to help their children learn how to use the internet safely. Social stories are a great way to teach teens, particularly those with unique learning needs, essential internet safety skills. These stories can help kids understand why certain rules and behaviors are important when … read more

Making Stuff EF Friendly, Executive Functioning, Social Skills

How to Make Planning a Date Executive Function Friendly

Planning a date can be a challenge for the best of us. What will we wear? When will we go? What will we do? Throw executive functioning issues into the mix and it’s a real headache, to say the least. Whether you’re interested in planning a first date with someone or you want to spend … read more

Social Skills

Comfort, Stretch and Panic Zones in Social Skills Development

One helpful model for understanding personal growth within the context of social skills development is Karl Rohnke’s Comfort, Stretch and Panic model, which was developed based on the Yerkes-Dodson law. This law posits that peak performance happens when people experience a moderate amount of pressure. According to this model, when we either fail to challenge ourselves or … read more

Social Skills, Executive Functioning, Planning

How to Write a Social Story (A Step-By-Step Guide)

If you’re working with a child with unique learning needs, you’ve probably heard all about the benefits and potential uses for social stories for students of all ages (even adolescents and young adults!). Social stories can help young learners adjust to new routines, participate in conversations, develop certain life skills, or learn how to interact … read more

Social Skills

Social Stories for Adolescents and Young Adults

For young children with autism, social stories have long been used as a tool to help children learn how to behave and engage in various social interactions. Not only can social stories teach new social skills, but they can also educate learners on the best ways to regulate their behavior. Until recently, social stories have … read more