When I want to Escape: Social Story

A regulation-focused social story designed to support children who experience overwhelm, shutdown, hiding, or escape behaviours at school or in community settings.

Created by an Occupational Therapist, this gentle, neurodiversity-affirming resource helps children understand why their brain and body may want to “run away,” while teaching safer regulation strategies and emotional awareness in a calm, non-shaming way.

Using child-friendly language and supportive visuals, this story guides children through:

• recognising overwhelm and early body signals,

• understanding that escape feelings are real and valid,

• using a safe regulation plan,

• asking for help appropriately,

• taking calming breaks safely,

• and returning to learning feeling more regulated.

Perfect for:

• school refusal or school anxiety,

• PDA profiles,

• autistic and ADHD children,

• emotionally overwhelmed children,

• children who hide, flee, or avoid when stressed,

• wellbeing rooms and regulation spaces,

• teachers, therapists, and parents wanting a supportive visual tool.

This resource promotes emotional safety, co-regulation, and nervous-system-informed support rather than punishment or shame.

What’s Included:

• 3-page printable PDF social story

• Child-friendly visuals

• Regulation-focused language

• Safe break plan examples

• Encouraging affirmations and emotional validation

Ideal for use:

• before school,

• during transitions,

• in therapy sessions,

• at wellbeing check-ins,

• or as part of a child’s emotional regulation support plan.

Created by The Regulated Family — supporting families through practical, compassionate, evidence-based emotional regulation tools.