SocialTales: Create Social Stories in 6 Easy Steps ✨

Kids do best when they know what to expect. SocialTales turns real-life moments into short, visual stories you can read, practice, and share. Here’s the full, human-friendly guide—from opening the app to saving your finished story—plus tips, examples, and default settings that work great right out of the box. 💪📖

🚪 Step 0: Entry (Therapy & Development)

What you’ll see: Two big cards — Behavior Plan Intervention and Social Stories.
Tap: Social Stories → opens the Story Generator workspace. 🎯

🧭 Step 1 of 6: Pick a Story Type

Screen: “What type of social story would you like to create?”
Choose the setting where your child will use the skill:

• Everyday Experience — morning/bedtime/mealtime

• School Scenario — classroom, playground, lining up, lunch

• Social Interaction — greetings, sharing, conversation

• Community Setting — stores, restaurants, library, appointments

• Transition / Change — stopping a game, switching activities

• Emotional Situation — noticing/handling feelings (worried, proud, angry)

• Custom Theme — anything unique to your child

Do this: Select one → Continue.
Why it matters: It sets the outline, tone, and sample scenes the AI uses.
Pro tip: Not sure? Pick the setting first (e.g., School)—you can still teach any skill inside that setting.

🎯 Step 2 of 6: Choose the Target Skill

Screen: “What social skill should the story focus on?”

• Transitions & Changes

• Sharing & Turn Taking

• Recognizing Emotions

• Conversation Skills

• Making Friends

• Personal Boundaries

• Custom Skill

Do this: Select one skill per story → Continue.
Why it matters: This controls the learning goal, sentence frames, and success checks.
Pro tip: One skill per story = faster carryover. Make a second story if you need another skill.

👧 Step 3 of 6: Personalize (Child & Details)

Left panel: Select/Add a child profile. Quick actions: Generate Story Ideas, Custom AI Prompt, Help & Tutorial.

Do this:

• Choose (or create) a child profile.

• (Optional) Add details that make it their story—name, pronouns, favorite items, sensitive triggers, calm tools.

Why it matters: Names and details appear in the text; the AI selects friendlier examples and coping cues.
Pro tip: No personal photos? Totally fine—use icons or neutral visuals and keep the text personalized.

📖 Step 4 of 6: Draft & Preview (Book View)

You’ll see a center Book View (page flip animation).
Controls: Regenerate, Save, + New Story (top-right) and Back, Save Story (bottom). Optional: Practice Reading.

Do this:

• Read the pages; check title, images, and short sentences.

• Click Regenerate for a fresh draft (same settings, new wording).

• Click Save Story to add it to your library.

Why it matters: Saving locks a version you can edit/print later; Book View helps kids rehearse like a real book.
Pro tip: Keep sentences short and rhythmic. If a page feels long, go Back → tweak → Regenerate.

🎨 Step 5 of 6: Visual & Interactive Elements

Screen: “Add visual and interactive elements.”

• Number of Story Images — choose how many pictures (0–4)

• Comic Book Mode (optional) — panels with speech/thought bubbles

• Learning Supports (toggles):

  • Highlight Emotions

  • Visual Social Cues (e.g., one-finger wait)

  • Thought Bubbles (what a character might think)

  • Social Understanding Questions (what’s happening/next/why)

  • Include Social Rules (positive phrasing)

  • Include Coping Strategies (breathing, counting, asking for help)

Do this: Pick image count, decide on comic style, toggle supports → Continue.
Why it matters: Changes the page layout and coaching prompts under each scene.
Pro tip: For new learners, start with 2 images + Highlight Emotions + Social Cues + Coping. Add Questions/Rules later.

💾 Step 6 of 6: Save, Practice & Share

You may see a friendly “The End” page. Buttons: Back, Save Story, Practice Reading.

Do this:

• Click Save Story → stored in Saved Stories.

• Use Practice Reading to rehearse—perfect before school or a new activity.

• Print or export from your library for home/class copies.

Why it matters: You’ll have a reusable version to tweak and share across caregivers and teachers.
Pro tip: Read once before the event, once during as a cue, and once after as a review—same visuals, same words. 🔁

🧪 Micro-Examples (paste these as starter lines)

• Transitions & Changes: “First clean up, then lunch. I can take one breath and count to five while I wait.”

• Sharing & Turn Taking: “I wait with one finger up. When it’s my turn, I play.”

• Recognizing Emotions: “If I feel angry, I can take a slow breath and say, ‘Help, please.’”

• Community (Library): “I whisper, wait in line, and return books gently.”

🛠️ Admin Notes (Help/Tutorial quickies)

• Regenerate = new wording/images with the same choices

• Saved Stories = your library to re-open, tweak, or print

• Custom AI Prompt = add teacher/therapist goals in your own words

🖥️ On-Screen Recap (the short version)

1. Story Type → pick setting (Everyday, School, Social, Community, Transition, Emotions, Custom).

2. Target Skill → choose one (Transitions, Sharing, Emotions, Conversation, Friends, Boundaries, Custom).

3. Story Details → Length (Short/Med/Long), Reading Level (Beginner/Intermediate), Communication Style (Highly Visual / Balanced / Concrete / Step-by-Step), Emotional Complexity (Basic/Intermediate/Advanced).

4. Learning Approach → Explicit Instruction / Modeling / Perspective Taking / Problem Solving.

5. Visual Elements → Images (0–4), optional Comic Mode, toggles (Emotions, Cues, Bubbles, Questions, Rules, Coping).

6. Final Touches → Custom elements (characters/places), review Summary → Generate Social Story.

You’ll see “Creating your personalized social story…” while the AI builds your draft. ⏳

✅ Recommended Defaults (first-time wins)

• Length: Medium (5–6 short paragraphs)

• Reading Level: Beginner or Intermediate

• Style: Balanced (text + visuals)

• Emotional Complexity: Basic or Intermediate

• Learning Approach: Explicit Instruction

• Images: 2–4 with Highlight Emotions, Visual Social Cues, Include Coping Strategies toggled ON