A social story for the grocery store

A grocery store social story follows the list: a cart, one aisle at a time, and only the items written down. The checkout line is its own story. This one ends when the list is in the cart.

The list and the cart

Carol Gray's 10.2 criteria ask for first person or third person, and they leave out "you" (Social Stories 10.2 Criteria, accessed November 1, 2026). The lines below are first person.

List, Cart, One Aisle at a Time

I go to the grocery store with Mom or Dad. A list is in the cart.

We walk one aisle at a time. I may hold the list. I do not run.

Milk is on the list, so milk goes in the cart. A box that is not on the list stays on the shelf.

If I want that box, I ask. The answer may be yes, or it may be only the list today.

Cold food comes last, so it stays cold. Then the list is done.

We walk toward the front. The line there is a different story.

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Before you park

Read the list in the car. Cross off items you already have at home, so the aisle is not a hunt. The CDC says a short looking game can help on an errand: point to something blue, or something soft (Tips for Relying on Routines and Rules, accessed November 1, 2026). Skip the game if the aisle is crowded or your child needs quiet.

One adult stays with the cart. A child does not leave the aisle alone.

One practice

1. Write a short list before you leave.
2. Agree on one aisle at a time, or on the path you already know.
3. Put a list item in the cart and say its name.
4. When the list is done, walk to the line. Use the waiting story there.

Two pictures, the list then the cart, can be printed as a two-step picture strip. More strips are on the free tools page.

Later notes go out from the Social Stories email list.

When to ask for help

This trip is an errand. If fear of busy places has stopped your family from going out for weeks, ask the pediatrician. Bring the list and the aisle plan. The cart story is not medical care.

FAQ

What goes in the cart?

Only what the list names, unless an adult says yes to one extra. A yes is said out loud. It is not a guess.

Why is cold food last?

So it spends less time in the warm store. Milk and anything from the cold case go in near the end.

Where is the checkout line?

At the front of the store. This story ends when the list is in the cart; the waiting story covers the line.