Personal Space - A Reassuring Social Story

A first-person social story explains why standing too close to others is uncomfortable and models leaving space when talking, standing, or sitting near someone.

An educational teaching resource from SEN Resource Source entitled Personal Space – Reassuring 6-Page Social Story downloadable at Teach Simple.

Grades: Not Grade Specific
File type: PDF
Preparation: Print ready

Updated Feb 21, 2024

Subject: Special Education Needs (SEN), Social Skills, Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Special Resources
Topic: Social Story, Personal Space
Preparation: Print ready

From the author

About this resource

Personal Space Social Story is a 6-page teaching resource that uses a reassuring tone and simple language to help children understand the concept of personal space. The story follows a student who stands too close when speaking with others. Realistic illustrations depict acceptable personal space in various school settings. Educators can use this resource with individual students or small groups who struggle with appropriate personal boundaries. It's an engaging way to teach about respecting personal space so students feel comfortable and safe at school. Display the story pages in a binder or laminate them for repeated use over time. The social narrative format helps reinforce the concept of personal space through a kind, patient approach. This teaching resource is useful for a range of grades and student abilities.

In the classroom

Teaching tips & learning objectives

Learning objectives

Recognize why standing or sitting too close to others can make them uncomfortable
Practice the concept of leaving space between yourself and another person

Teaching tips

Read the story aloud one-on-one or in a small group, pausing to connect each statement to real classroom situations
Reinforce the story's language ("give people personal space") as a consistent verbal cue during the school day
Follow up with role-play practice of standing and sitting at an appropriate distance, since the story itself contains no practice activity

Skills covered

Social awareness — students learn to recognize how standing or sitting too close to a peer can affect that person's comfort.
Self-regulation language — students are given a concrete phrase ("give people personal space") to apply the concept in real situations.

Good to know

Questions teachers ask about this resource

Why is the story written entirely in first person without dialogue or a plot?

The direct, repetitive first-person statements are typical of a social story format used to teach a single concrete social rule plainly, rather than through narrative or character conflict.