This is how I do it – Social stories – My friend is moving away

12 pages in color + 12 pages in black and white

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Curamus School for Autism for their wonderful support and assistance with the design of these booklets.

This social story booklet has been specially designed for neurodiverse learners to help them understand and process what happens when a special friend moves away, changes schools, or moves to another town or country.

When a friend moves away, a child may feel sad, angry, worried, or unsure. They may wonder when they will see their friend again and how things will change. This booklet uses simple sentences, visual support, and practical activities to explain this big change in a gentle and easy-to-understand way.

The story helps children understand that it is okay to miss someone, that special memories remain, and that they can make new friends without forgetting about an old friend.

🌱 Why does my child need this booklet?

✔ Helps children understand what it means when a friend moves away
✔ Validates feelings such as sadness, worry, and missing someone
✔ Helps children process change in a simple way
✔ Teaches children that it is okay to miss someone
✔ Builds understanding around new friendships and change

✨ What does this booklet help with?

• Understanding feelings around saying goodbye and change
• Learning that friends may still be able to stay in touch
• Holding onto special memories of a friend
• Understanding that it is okay to make new friends
• Learning to talk to a trusted adult when feelings become overwhelming
• Reinforcing these concepts through simple questions and practical activities

💛 Benefits for your child

✔ Supports emotional understanding and self-regulation
✔ Helps children identify and talk about their feelings
✔ Makes a big change easier to understand
✔ Encourages healthy ways of coping with sadness and missing someone
✔ Helps children understand that there is room for more than one special friend in their heart

The booklet also includes comprehension questions, true-or-false questions, matching activities, and a personal activity where the child can draw a picture or add a photo of themselves and their friend.

• 12 pages of meaningful content
• Black and white – perfect for coloring in
• Social story + practical activities
• PDF format for easy printing and use

A gentle, practical resource to help a child understand: My friend may move away, I may miss them, and that is okay. 💛