This social story is used to show children about being healthy at school under level 2. The story shows the most important health and safety aspects that they can take self-responsibility for.

At School

Use the correct entry and exit doors - use hand sanitiser when you go through these doors - The children are taught that transition from inside and outside is to be done using entry only and exit only doors. These doors display the appropriate sign. When going through one of these doors they are to use that time as an opportunity to use hand sanitiser. 

Leave space around other people - This just isn't hands and feet to self. It's about being aware of where you are sitting, standing and moving. At all times we want to limit as much contact as possible. 

Breathe into empty space - The children are taught to imagine where their breath is going. The idea is that your breath is not being breathed in by another person. We want that cloud of invisible breath to be going into an empty space.

Play on the concrete and the grass and the playground - In this picture you'll notice that the children aren't playing near the building. We want play to be away from the buildings and the verandahs. The children are to be playing on the concrete courts, the grassed areas and the wooden playgrounds.  

Eat my food only, drink my water only - Here the children are being taught to avoid saliva passing on germs illness. The children are taught to eat only the food they have brought with them from home, and to drink only from their own water bottle.

Toilets are only for toileting - This redirects children back to a social story located in each toilet block. Toilets are not play areas. They are also told that under level 2 they are to wait outside until a toilet cubicle is free - that is - one in, one out.

At Home

This social story could be used at home to teach and reinforce basic health and safety practices. The same distancing expectations and being aware of who is nearby applies at home as well as a school.

In general, We ARE Wairakei social stories illustrate positive behaviours that can be actively done. Therefore children can be spotted doing the positive behaviour. Therefore they can be praised and acknowledged for doing the positive behaviour. Although they are written with school in mind, the content is very easily reused or adapted for the home.

The best behavioural changes come from adults promoting positive behaviours that can be observed and praised. Tell a child the positive thing you need to see, praise and acknowledge when you see them doing it.