Social story topics
Social story: Washing my hands
Hand washing is a sequence of small steps with a lot of sensation: water that may be too cold or too hot, soap that smells and feels slimy, a tap that splashes and a dryer that roars. For autistic and neurodivergent students the steps blur and the dryer alone can be reason to avoid the sink.
This story sets out when to wash and the steps in order, and names the dryer and the alternative of paper towel. Read it before a toilet visit and pair it with a picture sequence at the sink. Once the steps are known, the story can fade and the picture strip stays.
A sample story
Washing My Hands at School
- 1At school, I wash my hands before I eat.
- 2Soap and water wash germs off my hands.
- 3Sometimes the water feels cold or the soap smells strong.
- 4I press the soap, rub my hands together for ten counts, then rinse them under the water.
- 5My hands are clean, and I feel ready to eat my lunch.
A sample made with HandsOnTop. Yours is written for your student.
Make this story for your student
The situation is filled in. Add a name and what they love, then click Make it — the first one is free.
Free to try · no card needed.
Tips for using it
- Put a picture sequence of the steps at the sink at child height.
- Offer paper towel if the dryer is the problem and say so in the story.
- Make the soap the same every time; a new smell can undo the routine.
Common questions
How many steps should the story have?
Five or six pages works well: tap on, wet, soap, rub, rinse, dry. Set the length before you generate so each step gets its own picture.
Can I make the matching step cards?
Yes. The next-step card after the story opens the visual supports tool with the same topic, so a sink strip takes a minute more.
Does it cover when to wash as well as how?
It can. Add "after the toilet and before eating" to the topic and the story will include a page about when.