Billy was a bright and curious 6-year-old boy who loved to explore and learn new things. He had a special companion, a fluffy golden retriever named Rover, who was always by his side. Billy lived with his parents in a big house surrounded by a beautiful garden. But one day, Billy’s parents had to go on a business trip and they couldn’t take him with them. So, they decided to send Billy to stay at the Home for a few days while they were away.
The Home was a big building with many rooms and hallways. As soon as Billy and Rover arrived, Billy could feel his anxiety rising. He didn’t like new places, and the Home was full of unfamiliar people and sounds. He held tightly onto Rover’s leash as they were shown to their room.
As they settled in, Billy noticed that there were many other children at the Home, some of whom were playing together in the common area. Billy wanted to join in, but he felt overwhelmed and unsure of how to approach the other children. He often struggled with social communication and found it hard to understand social cues.
Rover could sense Billy’s unease and nudged him with his nose, as if to say, “It’s okay, let’s go explore!” And so, Billy and Rover set off to explore the Home. They walked down the hallways, peeking into different rooms and meeting new people. Billy noticed that some of the other children seemed to have similar behaviors to him, like rocking back and forth or repeating certain words. This made him feel less alone and more comfortable in his new surroundings.
As they continued their exploration, Billy and Rover came across a big playroom filled with toys and games. Billy’s eyes lit up as he saw all the colorful toys and immediately wanted to play. But as he reached for a toy, another child came over and took it from him. Billy stood frozen, not knowing what to do or how to react.
But then, he remembered the social story his parents had read to him before coming to the Home. It was all about using words to express his feelings and asking for help when he needed it. Taking a deep breath, Billy mustered up the courage to say, “Excuse me, can I please have the toy back?” To his surprise, the other child said yes and even invited Billy to play with him.
Billy was overjoyed and couldn’t stop smiling. He had made a new friend and learned an important lesson about using his words to communicate. From then on, Billy and Rover spent their days at the Home exploring and playing with the other children. Billy even taught his new friend some of his favorite games, and they had a blast together.
As his time at the Home came to an end, Billy realized that he had grown and learned so much during his stay. He had overcome his anxiety and made new friends. He also discovered that even though he may have some struggles with social communication, he was still capable of forming connections and having fun with others.
On the day his parents came to pick him up, Billy felt a mix of emotions. He was excited to go back home, but also a little sad to leave the new friends he had made at the Home. As they said their goodbyes, Billy hugged his new friend and said, “Thank you for playing with me, I had a great time.” And with a big smile on his face, he and Rover walked out of the Home, ready to take on any new adventures that came their way.