Does anyone have a SOCIAL STORY for fear of rain and storms??

[mytwopenceworth]

ds1 has massive problems when it rains heavily, or there's a storm. He gets very upset and wants all the lights turned off, tv and computer off and us all to go to bed.

He gets very agitated if we don't all go to bed, but I don't really want to at 2pm on a sunday afternoon!!

He does very well with social stories these days and I wondered if anyone had one about it being safe when it's raining, to help him understand it can't hurt him and we don't all have to go to bed!

I've tried to write it myself, but it isn't coming together how I want it.

ok, never mind.

I wrote them in the end.

What do you think?

• don't forget they have pics though!!!

Daytime and Nighttime

Daytime and nighttime are different

Sometimes I get confused

Is it daytime? Is it nighttime?

I can look outside and see.

If it is daytime, I can see very very far.

The sky is blue, or grey if it is cloudy.

If it is nighttime, it is dark, like when I close my eyes.

I go to bed when it is EVENING.

This is at the end of daytime, but sometimes before the sky is very black.

My bedtime is 8pm.

8pm on a clock looks like this.

AND

Weather

Sometimes it is raining or there is a storm.

Sometimes it snows.

Sometimes this happens in the daytime, before bedtime.

I can watch the rain or the snow. It is pretty.

I do not have to go to bed, just because it is raining or there is thunder.

I can hear the thunder. It is loud, like a drum.

If I have to go out in the rain or the snow, I wear my coat.

It can be fun, splashing in the rain, or playing in the snow.

I think they are both good but (pedantic, sorry) they do not follow the traditional social story format of:
Descriptive sentences - what usually happens
Perspective sentences - what people think/ feel
Directive Sentences - what you would like them to try and do

So, is the first story about him going to bed even when it is light?
If so it could have the title:
How do I know when it is bedtime?
You have lots of good descriptive sentences and could add something like
Mummy likes it when I go to bed at 8 pm (perspective)
And
I will try to go to bed at 8 pm (Directive)

Or about other people being up:
People go to bed at different times. (descriptive).
Children usually go to bed before adults and thats OK. (descriptive).
Adults sometimes like to talk to each other when children are in bed (perspective) and thats OK.
I will try to be calm when I go to bed before Mummy (directive).

These are only suggestions - you know what the issues for him are.

Do you know what the problem with storms is? Is he frightened? Does he know the Noah story? If you can work out what the confusion/ fear is it can make it easier to focus your response.

There is a good book about writing social stories:
'Writing and developing social stories' by Caroline Smith which has an explanation of the process and lots of examples.

Thank you.

I knew it wasn't 'right', iyswim.

I really need some help with them.

He gets confused about when to go to bed.
I don't know why he hates rain and storms, but he believes we must all turn everything off and go to bed. Nothing I say can convince him otherwise.

I do think perhaps he has had a lesson at school where they talked about storms and turning things off to avoid lightening, and he has turned it into this. He is certainly scared of thunder. Terrified even.

I want him to understand daytime and nighttime. He asks all the time. Dark days, lots of cloud, make him think it is night and he gets anxious because he thinks he is supposed to be in bed. It is also confusing for him because the nights draw in and then out!! I also want him to not try to force us to go to bed every time it rains! and to reassure him that he is safe.

Can you, or someone, help me rewrite what I've got? I know it's not quite right, but it can't be too long either and must be very simple, short sentences.

I will look out for the book too. Thanks.

Would a poem help as well?

I have a friend (a man no less) who writes poems about things that frighten children.. shall I ask him to write one about this?

Actually... he had already written one about storms... it's here.. (in case it helps..)

Storms

Lightning goes flash

Thunder goes crash

The sky is dark and loud

The rain goes splash

The wind goes thrash

But my mummy is very proud

Cos? I?m sat here at the window

And do you know what I can see?

Very angry weather

But its not angry at me.

So I don?t need to hide

Because Im brave and have nothing to fear

For Im in side in the dry and warm

With my proud mummy sat here

thank you v much. That is a lovely poem. I am going to use that!!

Glad you like it. Friend will be pleased.. he doesn't know if his poems are any goos or not as he thinks his DW and I are biased.