Touching Things

We’re sharing how to use social stories to address appropriate scenarios in which children with special needs may use touch.

Many children use touch to learn and explore their environments.

If you’re looking for a tool to teach your child scenarios in which touching may or may not be appropriate, try a social story! These fully customizable stories describe specific scenarios and help you set expectations for appropriate behaviors for your child.

Topics covered in our social stories on touch include: setting boundaries for touching other people or other people’s belongings, when it is appropriate to hug someone, and reinforcing that hands should not be used to touch hot objects.

The special education resources on this page were authored by Watson Institute’s special education consultants and faculty.

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].

How to Talk to My Friends

Touching Other People’s Things

Touching People

What Can I Touch

What Can I Touch*

My Hands Are Not For Hitting

My Hands Are For…*

My Hands Are Not For Hot Objects

Personal Space 

Keep Hands Out of Pants

All About Hugging and Touching

All About Hugging and Touching*

All About Hugging and Touching**

What Goes in Your Mouth

Fact Sheet: Germs and Your Health

I Am Special*

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