ABSTRACT
M AKING A START ON WRITING A SOCIAL story for a particular child can
seem daunting. However, recent evidence shows that the majority of
stories written lead to positive changes in children’s behaviour
(Smith, 2001). Having used social stories for over five years, and having
received evaluations and copies of more than 150, only one stands out as
making no difference at all. The story that ‘failed’ has a certain comic slant to
it. Bearing in mind that social stories are intended for children with poor social
understanding, the story that failed to change behaviour was written by a
teacher for her 10-year-old son who, although hearing-impaired, did not have
difficulties in social understanding. The teacher had become increasingly
irritated at her son’s unwillingness to unload the dishwasher at home, and
decided to write her first story with this issue as its focus. Entitled, ‘Why I should
unload the dishwasher’, the story included a few insights into the reasons why
the family would find it a good idea if the son mended his dishwashing ways.
