A social story for getting a shot

A shot story tells a child, before you leave home, where they will sit, how the poke can feel, and what they can do with a comfort hold and a bandage afterward. Pediatricians writing for HealthyChildren.org say saving the news until the last minute adds stress, and that a plan made ahead of time helps a child feel more in control (Taking Fear and Pain Out of Needles, last updated August 3, 2022). We checked that page on October 30, 2026.

The lines below are only the vaccine. The scale, the stethoscope, and the rest of a checkup are in the checkup story.

Why the poke feels bigger than it is

A vaccine is quick, and it is still a surprise if nobody named it. A child may picture something much worse than a brief pinch, or they may remember a poke that hurt. That same HealthyChildren page notes that at least two-thirds of children have some fear of needles, so the worry is common, not a failure of courage.

The authors suggest telling your child ahead of time, using neutral words such as "pressure," "pinch," or "poke," and giving a plain reason: this medicine helps keep them healthy. Brushing off the worry ("it's not a big deal") can make anxiety worse. Acknowledging that they are not looking forward to it, then making a plan together, is the approach they describe. They also say not to apologize for the vaccine, because caring for their health is not a mistake.

Put that plan in order, and keep it true. Do not write that it will not hurt. Gray's accuracy rule is summarized in what a social story is.

Example: "Getting a Shot"

Getting a Shot

Today there is medicine that helps the body stay healthy. The medicine is a shot.

A grown-up told me before we left, so I know about the poke.

I sit in a chair or on a lap. Nobody holds me down. I picked a plan: look at a book, sing a song, or take slow breaths.

The nurse gives the medicine in an arm or a leg. It can feel like a pinch or a press. Then that part is done.

A bandage goes on. Sometimes the spot feels sore later. That can happen.

Then we go home.

Six short beats, one picture each. Read it before you go, and again at the clinic only if your child asks.

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Build the plan this clinic will actually follow

• Say it early enough to choose a plan. Saving the news for the car ride adds stress for both of you, according to that HealthyChildren page. If a long warning makes anxiety worse, shorten the gap, and still do not pretend there is no poke.
• Use the words the clinic will use. "Pinch," "press," and "poke" are the neutral words they suggest. Keep "shot" if the clinic will say shot, so the book and the nurse match.
• Let them choose the distraction, then practice it. A book, a song, slow breaths, or a funny video. Blowing bubbles or a pinwheel can slow breathing too.
• Offer a comfort hold, not a pin-down. Sitting on a lap or close beside you is different from being held against their will. The authors say children should not be held down for a procedure.
• Ask what this office can do for the skin. Some offices have numbing cream (some kinds need about 30 minutes) or a small buzzing tool placed on the skin above the poke. The page describes that tool as changing how the poke feels. Write it in only if this office will use it.
• Count the pokes if you know the number. "One pinch" is true only if there is one. If there are two, say two.
• Skip the prize unless it is already decided. End with the bandage and going home, or with a snack you have already packed.

To write the lines in your own words, start from the fill-in story guide. The checkup around the vaccine is the other guide linked above.

One rehearsal the night before

• Practice the breath or the song so it is familiar when the sleeve goes up.
• Sit together the way you will sit in the room, including the comfort hold.
• Pack the book, the song, or the bubbles.
• Tell the nurse the plan when you arrive. That is what the HealthyChildren authors ask families to do.

A picture for the room: a free first-then board for the doctor. First the shot, then a snack, and only if that snack is real. More printable boards are on the free tools page.

Those authors say these plans are enough for many children, and that some children need more help after a hard medical visit. If fear is getting in the way of care, ask the pediatrician about extra support, such as a child life specialist or a mental health professional. Preparation does not replace that.

If a weekly story would help the next appointment, subscribe to Social Stories.

FAQ

When should I tell my child about the shot?

Before you leave home, with enough time to pick a plan. Waiting until the last minute adds stress, the HealthyChildren page says. If a long warning makes your child more upset, tell them closer to the visit and keep the book short and true.

Should I say the shot will not hurt?

No. Say it can feel like a pinch or a press, and name one thing your child can do during it. A promise of "no hurt" breaks trust the moment the poke is real.

What if there is more than one vaccine?

Say how many if you know. "The nurse gives two pinches. We can count them. Then it is done." If you do not know the number, say "sometimes there is more than one" instead of promising a single poke.

When is a story not enough?

When fear is blocking care. HealthyChildren says some children need more than a comfort plan after a hard medical visit, and it points families toward a child life specialist or a mental health professional. Ask the pediatrician. Preparation does not replace that help.