When I Want Mom Storybook OAK HILL STORIES
When I Want
Mom
A social story about missing home and staying safe at school.
This Book Belongs To:
My School Goal:
I can miss Mom and stay safe.
Oak Hill Elementary School Cover
My Feelings
Oak Hill Elementary
Sometimes I miss Mom.
I may feel sad or worried.
Sometimes I miss Mom when I am at school.
I may think, “I want my Mom.”
It is completely okay to miss Mom.
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 1
Safe Words
Oak Hill Elementary
Tell
My Adult
When I miss Mom, I can tell an adult at school:
1
“I miss my Mom.”
2
“I need help.”
My school adult will listen to me and help me feel safe.
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 2
School Time
Oak Hill Elementary
1. School
2. Mom
My adult can remind me:
“First school, then Mom.”
Mom knows where I am. She knows I am safe, learning, and practicing staying at school!
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 3
Safe Body Choices
Oak Hill Elementary
Stay with my adult
I do not run away
I do not need to run away to get Mom.
I stay with my adult. I keep my body safe.
Staying safe means my body stays in the right place with the adults who care about me.
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 4
My Safe Plan
Oak Hill Elementary
When I need help, I can:
Ask for help
Ask for a break
Take calm breaths
Stay with my adult
I can miss Mom and still have a safe, wonderful day at school!
I can stay at school. I am so proud of myself!
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 5
Want Mom Companion Cards Visual Support Cards • Print & Cut
Oak Hill Elementary
Teacher/Parent Instructions: Cut along the dashed lines. Laminate for durability. Use on student desks, visual keyrings, or quiet sensory spaces.
I Can Say:
“I miss my Mom.”
I can tell my school adult how I feel.
My Routine:
“First school, then Mom.”
Mom knows I am safe and learning.
I Can Say:
“I need help.”
An adult is always ready to assist me.
Calm Strategy:
Smell Flower Blow Candle
“Take a calm breath.”
Breathe in slow, breathe out gentle.
Oak Hill Elementary School • Story 1 Visuals Cards
When I Need Help Storybook OAK HILL STORIES
When I Need a
Break or Help
Learning to use my words and visual cards when things feel hard.
This Book Belongs To:
My School Goal:
I can ask for help or a break safely.
Oak Hill Elementary School Cover
My Body's Signals
Oak Hill Elementary
Work can feel hard.
“I need a break!”
Sometimes school work or an activity can feel hard.
Sometimes I may not want to do something.
My body tells me: “I need to pause and reset.”
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 1
Safe Requests
Oak Hill Elementary
Ask For Help
OR
Ask For Break
When I need help or a break, I can say:
1
“Help, please.”
2
“I need a break.”
I can also show my adult my Break Card. My adult will listen and help me.
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 2
Break Safety
Oak Hill Elementary
Stay with my adult
Do not run away
A break means I stay safe and stay near my adult.
I do not run away from my safe space.
I do not hit, kick, throw things, or hurt anyone.
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 3
My Reset Power
Oak Hill Elementary
After my break is finished:
My adult will help me know what comes next.
I have safe words to tell adults what I need:
“Help, please.”
“Break, please.”
I can ask for help. I can ask for a break.
These choices keep me and my classroom safe!
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 4
Help or Break Companion Cards Visual Support Cards • Print & Cut
Oak Hill Elementary
Teacher/Parent Instructions: Cut out these cards and laminate them. Give the Break and Help cards to the student to use independently as visual communication tools.
I Can Say:
“Help, please.”
I can ask an adult to help me with my work.
I Can Say:
“I need a break.”
I can pause and let my body become calm.
Visual Desk Tool
BREAK CARD
Hand this card to my adult to request a break.
This helps me transition safely.
Safe Body:
Safe Hands No Running
“Stay with my adult.”
Keeping myself and others safe at school.
Oak Hill Elementary School • Story 2 Visuals Cards
When It Is Too Loud Storybook OAK HILL STORIES
When It Is
Too Loud
A social story about listening to my body and finding quiet focus at school.
This Book Belongs To:
My School Goal:
I can use my words and headphones.
Oak Hill Elementary School Cover
Noisy Places
Oak Hill Elementary
Cafeteria & Gym
Busy Classrooms
Sometimes school can be loud.
The cafeteria, gym, classroom, or other places may have lots of sounds.
It is okay to feel uncomfortable with loud noises.
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 1
My Sensory Tool
Oak Hill Elementary
Too Loud
Headphones
When it feels too loud, I can say to an adult:
1
“Too loud.”
2
“Headphones, please.”
I can put on my quiet headphones if they are available to help protect my ears.
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 2
Safe Behavior
Oak Hill Elementary
Stay with my adult
Do not run away
I can also ask: “Break, please.”
My adult will help me find a quiet space.
I stay with my adult. I do not run away because of the noise.
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 3
My Quiet Plan
Oak Hill Elementary
I do not need to scream or yell:
I can tell my adult what my body needs:
“Too loud.”
“Headphones.”
“Break.”
Using my words helps adults understand me quickly.
I can tell someone when it is too loud.
I am in control, and I make safe choices!
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 4
Too Loud Companion Cards Visual Support Cards • Print & Cut
Oak Hill Elementary
Teacher/Parent Instructions: Cut out these visual sensory cards. Laminate and put them on a key ring or the student's desk to facilitate fast, non-verbal communication during moments of sensory overwhelm.
I Can Say:
“Too loud.”
I can point to this card if my voice is tired.
I Can Ask:
“Headphones, please.”
I can put on my headphones to quiet the room.
I Can Ask:
“Break, please.”
I can ask to walk to a quieter, safer spot.
My Body Choice:
No Screaming Stay Safe
“I stay with my adult.”
Walking with my adult keeps my body safe.
Oak Hill Elementary School • Story 3 Visuals Cards
I Can Stay With My Adult Storybook OAK HILL STORIES
I Can Stay
With My Adult
How walking and staying with my teacher keeps me safe and successful.
This Book Belongs To:
My School Goal:
I can stay with my adult during school transitions.
Oak Hill Elementary School Cover
School Movement
Oak Hill Elementary
Classroom to Lunch
Lunch to Recess
Class to Gym
Gym to Class
At school, I move from one place to another.
This is called a transition.
Moving between activities helps me learn new things and have fun in different places!
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 1
Safe Mindset
Oak Hill Elementary
I may feel worried or sad
I make a safe choice
Sometimes I may not want to go to the next place.
Sometimes I may feel worried, sad, or upset.
When this happens, I have a safe choice.
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 2
How I Walk
Oak Hill Elementary
Hold Hand Walk Beside Follow
I stay with my adult.
I can hold my adult's hand, walk beside them, or follow close behind them.
If I need help or a break, I can always use my safe words:
“Help, please” “Break, please” “Too loud”
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 3
Safety Rules
Oak Hill Elementary
I do not run away
I stay with my adult
I do not run away. I do not open doors and leave the school.
I stay with my adult.
My adult will help me know exactly what comes next. I can walk safely!
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 4
Stay Adult Companion Cards Visual Support Cards • Print & Cut
Oak Hill Elementary
Teacher/Parent Instructions: Cut out and laminate. These cards help students remember walking rules, transition pathways, and script prompts when moving around Oak Hill.
My Safety Rule:
“Stay with my adult.”
I hold hands, walk beside, or follow close.
My Walking Choice:
“Walk safely.”
Walking inside the school keeps me safe.
Transitions:
“Help, please” “Break, please” “Too loud”
I have scripts to request what my body needs.
Safety Rule:
“Do not open outside doors.”
I stay inside my school building to stay safe.
Oak Hill Elementary School • Story 4 Visuals Cards
My School Transitions Storybook OAK HILL STORIES
My School
Transitions
A guide to following my schedule and changing activities with pride!
This Book Belongs To:
My School Goal:
I can follow transitions and feel proud of myself.
Oak Hill Elementary School Cover
Hearing Prompts
Oak Hill Elementary
“It is lunch time!”
“It is recess time!”
“It is gym time!”
“Back to classroom!”
At school, adults tell me when it is time to change activities.
I listen to their directions. Changing activities keeps my school day moving!
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 1
Visual Schedules
Oak Hill Elementary
First: Activity
Then: Next Step
My adult may show me my visual schedule or tell me:
“First ___, then ___.”
I can look at my schedule. I can listen. I can get my body ready.
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 2
Safe Strategies
Oak Hill Elementary
Walk with my group or my adult
Use headphones if too loud
If I do not want to go, I can use my words:
“I need help” “Break, please” “Too loud”
I can stay with my adult while I use my safe strategies.
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 3
Successful Day
Oak Hill Elementary
“You did it!”
When I complete my transition safely, my adult will say, “You did it!”
I can be proud of myself.
I can make safe choices during transitions. I am an excellent student!
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 4
Transitions Companion Cards Visual Support Cards • Print & Cut
Oak Hill Elementary
Teacher/Parent Instructions: Cut out and laminate. The "First/Then" card can be customized with dry-erase markers. Use these cards to provide structure and immediate reassurance.
Dry Erase Tool
First:
Then:
Shows the sequence of upcoming tasks.
My Listening Goal:
“Listen & follow.”
I listen to my school adults' directions.
My Routine:
“Look at schedule.”
My schedule shows what happens next.
My Reward:
“I did it!”
I transition safely. I am proud of myself!
Oak Hill Elementary School • Story 5 Visuals Cards
I Can Return to Class Storybook OAK HILL STORIES
I Can Return
to Class
A social story about calming my body and transitioning back to learning.
This Book Belongs To:
My School Goal:
After I take a break, I can return to class safely.
Oak Hill Elementary School Cover
Calm Body Signals
Oak Hill Elementary
My body becomes calm.
Ready to learn again.
Sometimes I need a break from an activity.
A break helps my body become calm and relaxed.
When my body is calm, it is time to return to class.
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 1
Re-Entry Steps
Oak Hill Elementary
1. Listen 2. Walk 3. Enter
My adult may say to me:
“Break is finished. First class, then ___.”
I can listen to my adult. I can walk with them, taking one step at a time!
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 2
My Feelings
Oak Hill Elementary
Sad
Worried
Disappointed
I do not have to feel happy about returning to class.
I can feel sad or disappointed and still return safely.
If I need help, I can say, “Help, please.” or ask “What's next?”
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 3
Successful Entry
Oak Hill Elementary
I walk, enter, sit, and begin!
I walk safely with my adult. I enter the classroom.
I sit in my learning space and begin my work.
My adult will help me get started!
I can take a break and return to class!
Oak Hill Elementary School Page 4
Return Class Companion Cards Visual Support Cards • Print & Cut
Oak Hill Elementary
Teacher/Parent Instructions: Cut out and laminate. These visual reminders assist in signaling transition ends and prompt the student to rejoin classroom activities constructively.
Transition Prompt:
“Break is finished.”
Time to transition back to my desk.
Pacing Strategy:
“One step at a time.”
I can move calmly and slow down my body.
I Can Ask:
“What's next?”
My adult will show me my schedule.
My Action Plan:
“Enter and begin.”
I will sit down. An adult will help me start.
Oak Hill Elementary School • Story 6 Visuals Cards