Using the Toilet Social Story

Social stories are a crucial tool for nurturing social-emotional skills in children, especially those with autism or anxiety. Using a warm, reassuring tone, these stories walk kids through various situations or life skills step-by-step. This particular social story helps children learn to use the bathroom independently.

The story uses simple language and repetition to explain that kids should not wait when they need to use the toilet. As soon as they feel the urge to go, they should stop playing and go straight to the bathroom. The story talks through what to do at each step - enter the bathroom, lock the door, pull down pants, sit on the toilet, wipe, flush, wash hands, exit bathroom.

Seeing the process spelled out plainly gives children the confidence and knowledge to handle bathroom time themselves. Visual learners appreciate the clear sequence of events. Knowing bathroom expectations ahead of time reduces accidents and anxiety.

Parents and teachers can review this social story with kids during potty training or to reinforce independent bathroom habits. The reassuring tone and clear details aim to set children up for success. Going to the bathroom on their own is a major milestone that leads to confidence and independence. This story breaks down the steps to make this vital life skill understandable.

These books should be used over and over to reinforce the point so I would suggest either putting the pages into a display book or laminating and binding them.

Clipart images courtesy of Kari Bolt.