Social story help

[5inthebed]

In a bit of a situation with DS2 that I have tried to explain to him as simple as possible, but it isn't getting through so I think a social story would work.

He has started to wake up at night wanting to go to the toilet, which is a fantastic development in itself, but he won't leave his room without me saying he can. He does this in the morning, always has done, no idea why as I've never told him he can't come out.

Anyway. He just sits and shouts "mam I need the toilet" until i wake up and tell him he can go. It can be any time in the night, usually about 2/3. He doesn't turn any lights on, so it isn't the dark.

Are there any social stories out there for this, or can someone help me write one?

TIA

Everybody needs to go to the toilet.

I need to go to the toilet as well.

Sometimes i might wake up in the night, when im in bed and need to go to the toilet.

This is ok.

When this happens i will get out of bed and go to the toilet.

Then get back into bed and go back to sleep.

Something along those lines to get you started and with pictures for the words.

Thanks Claw. I need to out something in there though about not shouting for me, as he will go by himself, but needs me to tell him he can.

Ds has a similar problem, he WONT ask for help when he soils himself in school! So he needs to know its ok to ask for help. Sounds like your ds needs to know its ok, not to ask for help!

SALT wrote him a social story. My understanding of it, was to tell the child what you WANT them to do and not what NOT to do if that makes sense.

For example you wouldnt write 'dont shout for mum', you would write something like 'I dont have to ask mum if i can go to the toilet' or 'i can go to the toilet by myself and mum thinks this is ok'

Thanks. I think I'll give his SALT a call, although not sure who his new one is as he was discharged from the old one. Will have to call the school.

Claw, that makes perfect sense, not sure why I didn't think of that. If my son doesn't understand "no" he certainly isn't going to understand "don't"

If he can use the toilet without feeling he needs to ask permission during the day, perhaps include something like

Everybody needs to go to the toilet.

I need to go to the toilet as well.

I go to the toilet by myself in the day and do not ask mum.

Sometimes i might wake up in the night, when im in bed and need to go to the toilet.

I can go to the toilet by myself in the night and do not have to ask mum.

This is ok.

When this happens i will get out of bed and go to the toilet without asking mum.

Then get back into bed and go back to sleep.

Ah! too many do not's then in that!

You know what your ds can and cannot understand. If he cannot understand do not, dont use it.

Anything like my ds, he gets really worried about getting anything 'wrong' and sees 'dont' and 'no' and as criticism or disapproval. So i tend to stick to what i want him to do, instead of what not to do.

Its confusing sometimes, as its much easier to say 'dont' do whatever and i have to stop and think!

I have a social story book by Carol Gray and ive just looked in it.

Sometimes i have to go to the toilet.

If i have to use the toilet i have two choices.

Ask mum

or go by myself

at night time when mum is in bed, i should go by myself without asking mum.

Short, sweet and to the point!

Claw, you're really good at this (must ask on here next time I'm trying to work out a ss!)

I would maybe change the second-to-last line to "I will try to get out of bed and go to the toilet without asking mum."

Cross-posted
Carol Gray pne is good

Hi Sazisi, the book is good, although it might not be extremely specific in some cases, gives you ideas.

I read another book years ago when my older boys were little about telling a child what you want them to do, instead of what NOT to do and was amazed at the results!

Reading the social story that SALT gave me, i realised that what she had done in her social story.

Bit of a book worm, so always happy to help with ideas and pass on any second hand knowledge!