What is a social story for taking turns?
A social story for taking turns helps a child understand what to do when another person is using a toy, game, swing, or classroom material. It uses calm, simple language to explain waiting, watching, asking politely, and knowing that a turn will come next.
- Teach waiting in a simple predictable way
- Model polite turn-taking language
- Practice one coping action while waiting
When to use this story
Use this story before playdates, preschool, playground time, board games, or any routine where a child has trouble waiting for a turn. It is especially useful when waiting leads to grabbing, crying, or frustration.
- Read it before a social situation
- Read it again right before play starts
- Keep the wording calm and repeatable
Example taking turns social story
Sometimes I need to wait for my turn. Another child may be using the toy first. I can watch and wait. I can say, "Can I have a turn when you are done?" While I wait, I can take a slow breath, count, or choose another toy for a short time. When it is my turn, I can use the toy gently. Taking turns helps everyone play together.
Create a personalized taking turns social story
ChildrenBooks lets you describe the exact play situation, choose the child's age and tone, and generate a structured social story outline. You can edit the text, copy it, download a printable PDF, or use it as the starting point for a picture book.