Top downloaded story
A printable social story for autistic children who hit. It does not tell a child to stop. It shows them what the feeling is, why the body wants to hit, and four things the body can do instead.
$5.99one-time payment
When autistic children hit, it's often because they're overwhelmed and need visual guidance on safe ways to express big feelings.
An adorable social story that walks a child through the whole feeling: the moment the body fills up, why it wants to hit, four things it can do instead, and the moment the feeling passes.
Bear feels very upset. Bear's body feels too full. When Bear feels this way, Bear wants to hit.
The story says out loud what usually goes unsaid: hitting is the body trying to let the feeling out. Not naughtiness. Not a choice. A body looking for an exit. Children recognise themselves here, and that recognition is what makes the rest of the story land.
Hitting can hurt others, and it can make Bear feel worse afterwards. Then, immediately, the page that most behaviour advice skips: Bear's feelings are okay. Feeling upset is okay. Having a full body is okay.
That separation is the whole point. The child is not being asked to stop feeling. They are being asked to change what the feeling does next. It is a much smaller ask, and it is one a child can actually meet.
Squeeze something tight. Stomp feet. Take a deep breath. Ask for help. Four pictures, four physical actions, all of them things the body can do while it is still full.
The story closes on the part children need to hear most: these choices help the body feel less full, and when the body is calmer it does not need to hit. Bear feels proud afterwards. The feeling passes.
Squeezing 
Stomping 
Breathing 
Asking for help 
Children learn to recognize their feelings and choose safe alternatives instead of hitting.
Learning safe ways to handle big feelings is an essential skill for all children.
$5.99one-time payment
This social story PDF is for parents, teachers and therapists searching how to stop an autistic child from hitting others. Rather than a behaviour chart or a list of consequences, it is a visual support that names the overwhelmed, too-full body behind autism hitting behaviour and gives the child four physical alternatives: squeezing, stomping, breathing and asking for help. It works as an autism aggression social story, a gentle hands visual support, and a calm-down tool for autistic children aged 2 to 7.
The people below know The Catbears from years of using our stories with children, at home, in classrooms and in practice.
There is no better time than today to equip our children with life skills and tools for social challenges. The Catbears provides this solution.
Michal Daliot "Super Nanny." Senior educator and family consultant. CEO of the Michal Daliot Center, providing training and consulting for parents and family counselors. The Catbears activities significantly strengthen children's ability to resolve everyday conflicts.
Yael Biber Aviad Trailblazing educator. Founded and led innovative schools introducing progressive methods like democratic education and project-based learning. Currently promotes alternative education and social equality in schools. Children discover their ability to handle everyday conflicts in wonderfully creative and original ways.
Dr. Gish Amit Author, education researcher, and school principal. His work combines educational research with practical application, emphasizing emotional-social connections between teachers and students. Stories and games that offer original, captivating approaches to resolving conflict and building inclusive, unifying dialogue.
Yehonathan Doron Leading educator and lecturer. Manages youth educational frameworks. Runs a parent-teen clinic. TEDx speaker and TEDx mentor. A model of educational innovation.
Rotem Ganot Head of Personalized Learning, R&D Division, Ministry of Education. A visual social story can help autistic children understand why hitting happens and what to do instead. This story teaches gentle hands, recognizing big feelings, and using safe alternatives like squeezing, breathing, or asking for help. Read it together regularly during calm moments to help your child learn better responses.
Autistic children may hit when they're overwhelmed, frustrated, or unable to communicate their needs. It's often a response to sensory overload, difficulty with transitions, or challenges expressing emotions. A social story helps them understand these feelings and provides visual guidance on safer alternatives.
This story is designed for children aged 2 to 7, including autistic children who benefit from visual supports. The simple language and clear visuals work well for children who are visual learners and need concrete examples of safe behavior.
Visual supports like social stories provide concrete, predictable guidance that autistic children can reference repeatedly. Unlike verbal instructions that can be overwhelming, visual stories stay consistent and help children understand expectations and safe alternatives to hitting.
A 9-page illustrated social story PDF, plus a letter for grownups explaining how to use it and what to do when your child is in a full emotional storm. It's a one-time payment and the download is instant. Print it or read it on a tablet, as many times as you like. The Catbears also publishes a large library of free printables at catbears.com/social-stories.
Read the story once daily during calm moments for at least a week. Consistent repetition helps autistic children internalize the concepts. Use it proactively before challenging situations and review it after incidents to reinforce the safe alternatives.
Stay calm and ensure safety first. After the moment passes, use the social story to review what happened and what safe alternatives were available. The story helps shift from reactive responses to proactive teaching, giving your child visual tools they can use before hitting occurs.
The Catbears is an EdTech initiative founded by therapists, educators, and designers. This story was developed in collaboration with speech therapists (SLPs), occupational therapists (OTs), and teachers who work with autistic children daily.
PDF A duck can't fly, no matter how hard he tries, until he learns to ask for help. A growth mindset story for kids about big feelings and the power of yet. Read on screen or print.
PDF Personal space social story PDF for kids with autism. Printable visual support that teaches children to recognize body language signs for when to be close and when to give space.
PDF Free printable emotion faces PDF for kids. Cut out the Bear's eyes, mouths and expressions, then mix and match to build and play with feelings. Simple, intuitive, free.
