When I’m Scared: Social Story and Activities for Kids

Purpose of Flashcards: Fear is a natural emotion that everyone experiences, and helping children understand and manage it is crucial for their emotional well-being. "When I’m Scared" is a thoughtfully designed social story resource tailored for young learners, including those with autism or special needs. Through relatable scenarios, this resource teaches children how to recognize, express, and cope with fear in a healthy way. With engaging illustrations and interactive activities, it empowers children to build emotional resilience and feel supported in moments of fear.

Product Details

Format: Printable PDF

Total Pages: 11 (16 segments and 6 activities)

Features:

• Includes a first-person social story with real-life pictures and easy-to-understand text.
• Vocabulary practice, spelling activities, comprehension questions, open-ended prompts, creative exercises, and role-playing scenarios.

Educational Benefits

Emotional Awareness: Helps children identify and articulate their fears, fostering self-awareness and confidence.

Coping Skills Development: Offers practical strategies to manage fear, including communication, distraction techniques, and positive self-talk.

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Enhances emotional intelligence and empathy through relatable stories and interactive activities.

Critical Thinking: Activities like comprehension questions and open-ended prompts encourage children to think about their emotions and responses.

Language and Vocabulary Skills: Builds essential language skills through vocabulary exercises and spelling practice.

Creativity and Expression: Encourages self-expression through creative drawing and role-playing activities.

Instructions for Use

Start with the Social Story: Read the 16-segment social story aloud with the child or let them read independently. Discuss each segment, ensuring they relate to the scenarios presented.

Vocabulary and Spelling Activities:

• Introduce the Vocabulary: Introduce the 5 vocabulary words, explaining their meanings.
• Spelling Practice: Complete the spelling activity, encouraging the child to learn through repetition.

Comprehension Questions: Go through the multiple-choice questions, helping the child connect the story to their personal experiences. Use these as discussion starters to explore deeper thoughts and feelings.

Open-Ended Prompts: Encourage the child to reflect on their own experiences with fear and share their thoughts. Use these prompts as journaling activities or conversations during one-on-one time.

Creative Activity: Help the child draw or create visual representations of their fears and solutions. Use this activity to discuss positive outcomes and coping strategies.

Role-Play Scenarios: Act out common fear-inducing situations and practice responses. Teach comforting phrases and demonstrate empathy during role-play to build trust and understanding.

Activities Using the Resource

Social Story Exploration:

• Objective: Read the 16-segment story with the child, discussing each scenario where fear might occur (e.g., fear of the dark, new environments).
• Activity: Encourage the child to share their experiences and feelings about similar situations.

Vocabulary Activity:

• Objective: Introduce 5 key vocabulary words related to fear and coping strategies.
• Activity: Use the multiple-choice format to help the child choose the correct meaning, reinforcing comprehension.

Spelling Practice:

• Objective: Provide pairs of similar-looking words for the child to distinguish and spell correctly.
• Activity: Encourage repeated practice for mastery, emphasizing words from the story.

Comprehension Questions:

• Objective: Reinforce understanding of fear and coping strategies.
• Activity: Guide the child through 5 questions designed to reinforce understanding of fear and coping strategies. Encourage discussion around the correct answers.

Open-Ended Prompts:

• Objective: Help the child articulate their emotions by answering reflective prompts like:
• Activity: Pose reflective questions like "What makes you feel scared?" or "Who can help you when you’re scared?" Use these responses as a basis for further discussions about their feelings.

Creative Expression:

• Objective: Encourage the child to express feelings through creative means.
• Activity: Ask the child to draw their fear as a picture and then transform it into a positive or calming image. Use art as a medium to express feelings that may be difficult to verbalize.

Role-Playing Scenarios:

• Objective: Teach coping strategies through interactive practice.
• Activity: Act out situations that commonly cause fear, such as meeting new people or hearing a loud noise. Practice calming techniques like deep breathing or talking to a trusted adult.

Conclusion

Understanding and managing fear is an essential life skill, and the "When I’m Scared" Social Story and Activities provide a nurturing way for children to build emotional resilience. With relatable narratives, engaging visuals, and interactive activities, this resource empowers children to face their fears and develop healthy coping strategies. Whether used at home, in therapy, or in a classroom, this tool is a must-have for supporting emotional growth and well-being.