5 Social Stories for Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving Social Skills

Thanksgiving is almost here! For most of the world, families anticipate and look forward to this time with happiness. Some of us with special needs, maybe not. It can be challenging, to say the least.

Sometimes I think that I could use printable social stories for Thanksgiving to help me prepare. Make your holidays easier for your child with autism or other social challenges.

The holiday season often changes EVERYTHING for our households. Our schedules, what we eat, what we wear, who we are with, and what we do. Of course, it brings anxiety! If your child benefits from social stories, I have rounded up some printable sociable stories for you.

Heck, I may even print some and use them with my non-disabled child. After all, non-disabled kids get tired, stressed and hungry during these times too. Why shouldn’t we prepare and inform all kids of the changes and transitions that are about to occur?

Thanksgiving and Colonialism

In recent years, and since the first publication of this list, I have been doing some internal work against my own biases. That is, I am trying to examine what I was taught in school, what I was taught in home, and if that was an accurate portrayal of what is, or what happened.

In most cases, no, it’s not.

So I feel I have to mention the story of the “first Thanksgiving” and colonialism. We have to stop whitewashing history to fit our narrative. But, of course that has to be age and skill appropriate. Some of our kids may not be able to grasp a complex concept like colonialism. That is why I didn’t delete the post altogether. But I encourage everyone to tell the real story of Thanksgiving as is skill-appropriate. And, you can stop sending me nasty emails about this post.

Thanksgiving Social Skills

Regardless of which version of history is told, families will be getting together around the dinner table. And our kids deserve to be prepared and maximize their enjoyment.

Here are some social skills that you may wish to practice in this new environment or setting.

• Small Talk/Volleying
• Patience
• Socially accepted self advocacy
• Please and Thank You
• Trying new things
• Social Cues
• Facial Expressions
• Relationships

A few words about these printable social stories for Thanksgiving: I went through the list today to make sure all the links are valid. Some have an advertisement cover sheet, but if you click through, the social story will be there. As of September 2021, they are all working.

Printable Thanksgiving Social Stories

Here are some social stories for Thanksgiving including PECS cards.

I hope you have a perfect season!