Editable Anger Social Story: When I Feel Angry

What is included

• •One illustrated social story about anger: body signals, slow breaths, words and safe hands
• •A gentle wording that describes far more than it instructs, and a firmer direct wording
• •Four child looks: a boy or a girl, with light or dark skin
• •Half-page booklets in wide and tall pages, in US Letter and A4
• •Blank write-in booklets in US Letter and A4, for the stories only you can write
• •A guide with a printed link and QR code for each wording that opens your copy in the free Social Story Maker

What the anger social story says

The gentle wording is eight pages long, one picture and one short sentence on each page, told in the child's own voice. The first two pages read:

The pages after that cover:

• what anger feels like in the body: fast breathing, a fast heart, tight fists
• why angry feelings are okay and hurting is not
• stopping for slow, deep breaths
• saying "I feel angry" so a grown-up can help
• safe things to do with angry hands, like squeezing a pillow
• feeling settled again and going back to play

The direct wording says the same things in seven pages, with the expectation stated plainly.

When to read an anger social story

Read it at a calm time, never during an outburst: a quiet afternoon, before bed, or the morning of a day with a known hard moment, like leaving the park. Read it again before that moment, and once more after a time your child used words or safe hands while angry, so the story is tied to a real success.

How to read the anger social story with your child

1. Start with the gentle wording; switch to the direct one if your child does best with a plain rule.
2. Print the child look that matches your child, and write their name on the cover.
3. Read one page at a time, pointing to the picture before you read the sentence.
4. Practice the slow breaths together on calm days, so they are easy to reach for on angry ones.
5. Keep a squeeze pillow or a break spot ready, and praise any safe choice your child makes while angry.

Anger social story questions

What is an anger social story?

An anger social story is a short illustrated story, in the approach developed by Carol Gray, that helps a child understand angry feelings. It describes what anger feels like in the body, shows slow breaths and saying "I feel angry," and offers safe things to do with angry hands.

Is it normal for young children to get angry, and when should I get help?

Yes. Toddlers and preschoolers may lack the self-control to express anger calmly, and occasional outbursts are normal, the American Academy of Pediatrics notes. Talk to your pediatrician if your child is unusually aggressive for more than a few weeks, hurts themselves or others, or the outbursts cause trouble at school or with neighbors.

What is the difference between the gentle and the direct wording?

The gentle wording mostly describes what happens and how it feels, with two coaching sentences. The direct wording states the expectation plainly: when I feel angry, I keep my hands and feet safe. Both come in this anger social story, so you can choose the one that fits your child.

Can I personalize the story?

Yes. The guide prints a link and a QR code for each wording that opens the story in the free Social Story Maker. You can add your child's name, change the examples to the moments that make your child angry, and swap in the safe choice that works for them.

What formats and paper sizes are included?

One ZIP with print-ready PDFs in US Letter and A4: the story in four child looks, each in wide and tall booklet pages and in both wordings, plus blank write-in booklets and the guide. Print at actual size, cut each sheet in half along the dashed line, stack the pages in order and staple the left edge.

How do I receive the files, and can I use them with my whole class?

Delivery is instant: checkout unlocks the download and emails you the link, and the pack stays in your My Resources library. It is licensed for personal and single-classroom use. Because it is a digital download, all sales are final; if a file will not open, email info@spectrumunlocked.com and Spectrum Unlocked will fix it.