Social Stories for Teaching Self Control

Are you looking for resources to teach your child or student about self-control?

Use social stories to cover self-control topics such as: what to do in an emergency, managing bodily functions, privacy, and appropriate behaviors.

To get started, identify the topic you’d like to cover. For this example, we’ll use how to teach your child to ask for help in case of an emergency as the topic.

In order to build out the social story, think about different emergency scenarios your child is likely to experience. Perhaps they are injured and need first aid or they have had a bathroom accident and need to ask for help.

In the social story, explain the situation from your child or student’s perspective. Be sure to include appropriate responses to the situation and also point out behaviors that should be avoided.

For example: I might have an emergency. If I am hurt and need help, I should find an adult. I can say or whisper, “I have been injured and I need help”. I shouldn’t run and hide. If I hide, no one will know that I am injured and need help.

Try creating your own social story to teach self-control, or access our free, fully customizable social story templates.

These behavior stories may benefit your students.  They can be downloaded, saved and edited to suit your needs.  The * notation indicates the story is  formatted in a Power Point presentation and the ** notation indicates a Power Point with sound narration.  Each Power Point has animation included on each slide.  Some occur automatically – some occur on a “click”.  Feel free to send comments or questions to [email protected].

It is Okay to Restart Your Day

What is Okay vs. Not Okay

Just Love To Draw

What Kids Expect – Personal Space and Rules

People Need Privacy

Bodily Functions

I Love to Sing

I Love to Sing*

Think It but Don’t Say it

Nose Picking

Nose Picking*

Nose Picking**

When It is OK to Laugh

Keep Hands Out of Pants

What Princesses Do About Hands in Pants

You Can Do It!

Rules and Laws

Self Control (elopement, pushing, throwing)

When There is an Emergency (What to do versus hiding behaviors)

Emergency Card (for elopement or other needs)

Superflex and Spider Man Can Help Me (Topic-talk nice and hands to self) (Interest Area Spider Man) (Characters based on Madrigal & Garcia Winner)

Expected Behaviors for Drawing (“Expected & Unexpected” inspired by M. Garcia Winner)

A Detective Story (Topic: Solving an issue when you’re upset)

This resource was authored by Watson Institute Special Education Consultant, Katie Bentz, M.Ed. 

If you have questions or concerns about the Watson Institute’s use of this information, please contact us.