How is this different from a personal space social story?

It works like a personal space social story: one clear situation and one step to practice. The difference is that your child is the main character, with their name and a friend’s name if you add one, and it comes narrated, so you can listen together and talk about it.

Is the story scary or about body safety?

No. It is a gentle, everyday story about asking before a hug and offering a wave or high five instead. There is nothing frightening in it, nobody is called rough, and your child also hears that their own no counts as well.

Choose Little ones (1–3), Growing kids (4–5) or Big kids (6–8), and the words, sentence length and pace follow that age. For the youngest, the story keeps to one simple idea: ask first. Remembering takes practice, so it is worth playing more than once.

Personal space story for kids, starring your child

Create a story

Your child’s name

Friend’s name (optional)

Any extra details to add?

Anything to avoid? (optional)

Optional — leave out monsters, getting lost, separation, loud surprises, or anything they don't want tonight.

The story is written and narrated in :

Narrator voice:

Every everyday challenge story is about 3 minutes long.

Who's listening?

The small step in this story

Your child practices one step, such as asking “Can I give you a hug?” or offering a wave or high five instead. Remembering to ask takes practice, and everyone gets to say no, including your child.

Talk about the story together

What did the character ask before giving a hug?
What did they do when the answer was no?
What are some other friendly ways to say hello?

Your child can answer, point to a picture, or simply listen. There is no correct answer.

They are designed for everyday conversations and practice. They do not promise that one story will change a habit or make a worry disappear.

When you’re teaching personal space to kids

Many young children love to hug, lean in and play close, and they can feel hurt when someone says “no thanks.” Teaching personal space to kids works best when it is framed as kindness, not a telling-off: everyone’s body belongs to them, so we ask first and listen to the answer. A personal space social story or a personal space book is a common way to show this, because a child can watch someone like them ask, hear no and still feel liked.

Questions parents ask

How is this different from a personal space social story?: It works like a personal space social story: one clear situation and one step to practice. The difference is that your child is the main character, with their name and a friend’s name if you add one, and it comes narrated, so you can listen together and talk about it.
Is the story scary or about body safety?: No. It is a gentle, everyday story about asking before a hug and offering a wave or high five instead. There is nothing frightening in it, nobody is called rough, and your child also hears that their own no counts as well.
What age is it for?: Choose Little ones (1–3), Growing kids (4–5) or Big kids (6–8), and the words, sentence length and pace follow that age. For the youngest, the story keeps to one simple idea: ask first. Remembering takes practice, so it is worth playing more than once.

A personal space story for kids, starring your child

When you’re teaching personal space to kids

Questions parents ask