Cala Luna by Little Lynx StudiosFree · printable · ages 5–9
Free social stories for kids
Short, calm stories for the moments children find hard: haircuts, the dentist, a new school, loud places and more. Each one takes two minutes to read, prints on one page and comes with a calm plan.
Haircut
The big chair, the cape, snip-snip and the buzzing clippers.
Read the story →Going to the dentist
The waiting room, the tipping chair, the bright light and counting teeth.
Read the story →
Free videoFirst day at a new school
New teacher, new classroom, new friends, and the one question that helps with worry.
Read the story →
Free videoSchool drop-off and saying goodbye
A goodbye that is the same every day, and the first small step after it.
Read the story →Talking at school
For children who chat at home but go quiet at school. No pressure, tiny steps.
Read the story →
Free videoWhen new clothes feel wrong
Itchy labels, tight socks, new shoes. Small steps, plus a free episode.
Read the story →Loud places and noises
Parties, hand dryers, fire alarms and busy shops, with a calm plan.
Read the story →Losing a game
Big feelings, small words: "good game" and "can we play again?".
Read the story →Looking for a different moment? Tell us the moment and we will make a personalised cartoon about it.
How to use a social story
- Read it together two or three times in the days before the moment, and once on the day.
- Keep it calm and matter-of-fact. Read it when your child is relaxed, not in the middle of an upset.
- Choose one or two things from the calm plan and practise them at home.
- Afterwards, praise the small step your child managed, not the absence of worry.
Social stories are one of the practices that a large 2020 US review of autism research classed as evidence-based, under the name "social narratives". The newest UK trial found they help most with one specific goal at a time, which is how ours are written. Read the evidence.
Made about your child
Your child, in a cartoon, getting through the hard moment
A two-minute calm cartoon where the hero looks like your child, says their name and manages their exact moment, one small step at a time.
$12.99 · ready in 24 hours · checked by a person
Questions parents ask
What is a social story?
A social story is a short, true, positive story that explains one situation from the child's point of view: what will happen, who will be there, and one or two things the child can do. The format was developed by Carol Gray in the early 1990s and is widely used in schools.
Who are these stories for?
Children aged about 5 to 9 who find a particular moment hard: autistic children, anxious children, children with ADHD, or any child facing something new. They are written for a grown-up and child to read together.
Are they free?
Yes. Read them on screen or print them. If you would like a version where your child is the hero of a short cartoon, that is our paid personalised cartoon.