Social story topics
Social story: Packing up at the end of the day
The end of the day arrives fast: a bell, a rush to stop an activity that was going well, a pile of things to find and pack, and a crowd heading for the gate. Stopping on someone else’s signal is hard for many autistic and neurodivergent students, and a missing hat or drink bottle can tip a tired child over.
This story sets out the pack-up in order and names the feelings that come with stopping. Read it in the afternoon a few times in the first week, and pair it with a picture checklist of what goes in the bag so the student can check it off without being asked.
A sample story
Packing Up at School
- 1At the end of the day, my teacher says it is time to pack up.
- 2I put my pencil case and my lunchbox into my school bag.
- 3My teacher knows packing up helps me find my things at home.
- 4I pick up my bag by the straps and put it on my back.
- 5My bag is packed and I am ready to go home.
A sample made with HandsOnTop. Yours is written for your student.
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Tips for using it
- Give a five-minute warning before the pack-up bell and put it in the story.
- Use a packing checklist on the desk or the bag, with pictures not words.
- Keep the end-of-day order the same every day, even on special days.
Common questions
Why does stopping cause such a big reaction?
Stopping something absorbing on someone else’s timing is genuinely hard, especially when the student did not see the end coming. A warning and a known sequence make the stop predictable.
Should I include what happens after school?
Yes if it varies. A line like "Today is Tuesday, so Dad picks me up at the gate" helps when pick-up arrangements change through the week.
Can I edit a page?
Every sentence can be rewritten by hand or with a one-line note, and any picture can be redrawn. Edits are saved so the PDF matches the screen.