Personal Space - A Reassuring Social Story

Product description

From the author

Introduce personal space with a nine-page PDF containing a cover and eight short social-story pages. The first-person statements describe leaving room when standing or sitting near others.

Read together, then add a brief role-play about asking for space and responding respectfully. The role-play is a suggested follow-up, not a supplied worksheet.

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

How can I practise the idea after reading?

Role-play standing or sitting near another person, then practise asking for more room and responding respectfully. Connect the example to familiar classroom activities.