How to help your child talk about their health or pain (Social Stories, etc!)

Have you heard of Social Story used in ABA?

Social stories are one of the effective visual aid methods that provide guidance on how to respond to various types of social situations.

 

It explains a situation or situation with an individual and helps them become self-aware, calm down, or manage themselves.

Social stories can be used to change behavior , but they can also be used to clarify the expectations society places on our children .

 

Social stories can be shown as images or in writing, but today we have brought you a social story that helps children understand and appropriately express their condition and health!

 

It was shared for free on a website called Living Well with Autism . There are a lot of great materials, so I recommend checking out the website as well.

 

1. When a child does not recognize or cannot express that he or she is in pain

As you can see from the image below, it tells you what to do when you feel unwell or in pain.

It tells us what “sick” conditions are and how to tell our parents and teachers that we are “sick.”

For children who are not yet able to talk about their health status well, it would be a good idea to print the pictures below and make them into a card or booklet, and then help them point to the picture when necessary to talk about their health condition.

when_I_feel_sick.224174633.pdf (livingwellwithautism.com)

 

2. When a child cannot express where it hurts

There is also a Social Story that helps you explain exactly “where it hurts” rather than just “it hurts.”

It's most frustrating and heartbreaking when you don't know where your child is hurting.

If you can say “It hurts” about pain that adults can usually see with their eyes (when your hands, feet, legs, etc. are injured) ,

In that case, please first help me say " 00 has -ache" or "00 has pain in...") more accurately .

At this time, if you practice in various situations through social stories, you will be able to express the pain in your head, stomach, or teeth that adults cannot see, just like you practiced when your child feels it.

telling_an_adult_about_pain.224174352.pdf (livingwellwithautism.com)

 

3. I got a cramp~ Charley Horse

Did you know that in English, I got a rat~ means I feel/got a charley horse!?

An old horse that limps is called Charley, and it is said that the muscle cramps seen in an old horse are applied to cramped legs!

This expression may be difficult for ASD friends to understand.

So, I also brought a related Social Story. Explain what muscle cramps feel like, how to get help and what to do when they occur.

 

When your child has cramps in their arms or legs, it may be a good idea to watch Social Stories and follow along with the stretching or actions that need to be done one after another.

what_is_a_Charley_Horse.224173923.pdf (livingwellwithautism.com)

 

4. (+Additional) If Social Story is too difficult, use a Band-Aid!

Do you think it is difficult to express pain just by reading the Social Story introduced by Living Well Autism ?

In that case, please use a more direct method.

• Prepare a toy such as Potato Head or a picture of a human body.
• Practice saying “00 is in pain” while applying actual bandages to every corner of the body parts (“00 has -ache” or “00 has pain in...”)
• At this time, ask your child to both follow directions (I have a headache. Put a bandage on my head) and express them.
• Expand it to hospital play and play by giving an injection or putting a bandage on a sore spot.
• Look at the picture below and ask, “Where does it hurt?”

 

If children can talk more actively about their health conditions or pain, tantrums of unknown causes can be reduced and serious illnesses can be prevented in advance.

 

Social Story, role play, following directions, discrimination... There are a variety of ways to help your child understand pain.

I hope today's post will be helpful in finding a method that suits your child better :)

 

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