Free Life Skills Sensory Stories for SEND & EYFS Learners

Life Skills Sensory Stories: Preparation for Adulthood

Help your learners master real-world independence skills with our free Life Skills Sensory Stories. These engaging, multisensory tales are designed for SEND, EYFS and post-16 learners, focusing on key functional tasks like sorting socks, washing up, and dressing for the weather. Each story comes with a free downloadable PDF, suggested sensory props, and ideas for extension activities. These stories are written for stage, not age, and can be adapted to suit a wide range of learners and settings.

Sorting Socks Sensory Story

Sorting Socks

We need to find the matching socks
In a race against the clock

Let’s rummage around in this old dark drawer,
I’ve found a green sock. Let’s find some more.

Help me find the matching socks
In a race against the clock

We should take a look behind the radiator
A stripy one, you star sock locator!

Help me find the matching socks
In a race against the clock

Inside the machine, give the drum a whirl
A scrunched up blue sock let it uncurl.

Help me find the matching socks
In a race against the clock

Inside the toy box, move aside those cars
There in corner a sock covered in stars

Help me find the matching socks
In a race against the clock

We need to crawl under the dusty bed
Look over there, a sock, bright red.

Help me find the matching socks
In a race against the clock

There is still one sock missing where can it be?
It’s hidden under the cushion on the settee!

Now we have found the missing socks
I knew we could do it. We beat the clock!

🧦 Sorting Socks Sensory Story – Learning Outcomes Table

Curriculum Framework	Relevant Area	Learning Outcome Supported
EYFS	Mathematics	Matching and sorting by attribute (e.g. colour, size, pattern)
EYFS	Communication & Language	Vocabulary building (e.g. colours, textures); listening to rhyme
EYFS	Understanding the World	Exploring the environment (e.g. finding socks in different places)
Routes for Learning	Object Use / Awareness of Objects	Engaging with familiar items for a functional purpose
Routes for Learning	Sensory Awareness / Tactile	Exploring different sock materials (e.g. textures, warmth)
IMPACTS	Cognition & Learning	Cause-effect understanding (find and match)
IMPACTS	Independence & Self-Care	Pre-dressing skill (awareness of socks as clothing items)

Lily Lace and The Silly Socks

This is a life skills sensory story that focuses on the texture of socks. Told through the use of socks with character.

Silly Sock Texture Sensory Story

Come and see the silly socks who live in your drawer,
Lets meet them, They run, jump and hop on the floor.

Lilly Lace is in disgrace she always thinks she’s best
With frilly tops she never stops telling off the rest.

Come and see the silly socks who live in your drawer,
Lets meet them, They run, jump and hop on the floor.

Billy Bobble has a wobble he’s getting all worn out
Covered in little balls he doesn’t talk he shouts

Come and see the silly socks who live in your drawer,
Lets meet them, They run, jump and hop on the floor.

Harry Hole takes a stroll to find himself some thread
To sew up all the little holes before they start to spread

Come and see the silly socks who live in your drawer,
Lets meet them, They run, jump and hop on the floor.

Wilma Wool dreads a pull she fears she will unravel
She’s thick and warm and really loves to travel

Come and see the silly socks who live in your drawer,
Lets meet them, They run, jump and hop on the floor.

Saanvi Sport on the court playing a hockey game
Long and tall she scores a goal with her perfect aim

Come and see the silly socks who live in your drawer,
Lets meet them, They run, jump and hop on the floor.

Teddy trainer an entertainer always playing pranks
Hides in shoes then steals your cake never saying thanks

Come and see the silly socks who live in your drawer,
Lets meet them, They run, jump and hop on the floor.

Penny Pirate in her boot, she doesn’t make a pair,
The other leg is wooden and she doesn’t think that’s fair.

🧦 Lily Lace & the Silly Socks – Learning Outcomes Table

Curriculum Framework	Relevant Area	Learning Outcome Supported
EYFS	Literacy	Engaging with rhythm, rhyme and narrative through characterisation
EYFS	Communication & Language	Understanding descriptive language and adjectives
EYFS	Personal, Social & Emotional Development	Social understanding (e.g. characters expressing emotions or roles)
Routes for Learning	Sensory Response / Interaction	Differentiating textures; reacting to novel stimuli (sock types)
IMPACTS	Sensory Development	Tactile exploration and texture comparison
IMPACTS	Communication	Prompting expressive or receptive responses to stimuli/characters

Washing Up

Washing Up Life Skills Sensory Story

Fill the sink with a squeeze and a squirt,
We wash the dishes and get rid of the dirt.

Give the washing up soap a squeeze,
Watch the blobs oozing, stop there please.

Fill the sink with a squeeze and a squirt,
We wash the dishes and get rid of the dirt.

Turn the taps and fill the sink,
This water is for cleaning, it’s not to drink.

Fill the sink with a squeeze and a squirt,
We wash the dishes and get rid of the dirt.

Wow, look at all the bubbles,
These stay in the sink; we don’t want puddles.

Fill the sink with a squeeze and a squirt,
We wash the dishes and get rid of the dirt.

In go spoons, bowls and pans,
Splash, splash, splash. What about our hands?

Fill the sink with a squeeze and a squirt,
We wash the dishes and get rid of the dirt.

Gloves, stretchy and rubbery,
Pull them on ready to wash the cutlery.

Fill the sink with a squeeze and a squirt,
We wash the dishes and get rid of the dirt.

Use the brush to make it clean,
Scrub, scrub, scrub and now it gleams.

Fill the sink with a squeeze and a squirt,
We wash the dishes and get rid of the dirt.

All finished, pull out the plug,
Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle oh no we forgot that mug.

🍽️ Washing Up Sensory Story – Learning Outcomes Table

Curriculum Framework	Relevant Area	Learning Outcome Supported
EYFS	Physical Development	Motor control (grasping sponge, scrubbing, squeezing bottles)
EYFS	Understanding the World	Exploring water, bubbles, and cleaning as real-life processes
Routes for Learning	Functional Skills / Daily Routines	Participating in routines such as dishwashing
Routes for Learning	Awareness of Stimuli	Reacting to water temperature, bubbles, textures
IMPACTS	Independence & Self-Care	Building familiarity with life skill routines
IMPACTS	Communication	Sequencing steps in routines, using symbolic cues (plug, tap, soap)

Rainy Day

Puddle Jumpers: A Rainy Day Sensory Story

Rain on the window
Watch it run down

That means…

Clothes on
Dressed, thick and warm

That means…

Wellies
Heavy, rubber and bendy

That means…

Outside
Chilly, cold, damp

That means…

Warm up
Dance, run and bounce

That means…

Puddles
Perfect, still and shiny

That means…

Jumping
Higher, up and up

That means…

Landing
Both feet, deep

That means…

Splashing,
Ripple, waves and drops

That means…

Again
Again and Again

That means…

Soaking
Wet and soggy clothes

That means..

Towel
Hot Chocolate, Dry

🌧️ Puddle Jumpers (Rainy Day Sensory Story) – Learning Outcomes Table

Curriculum Framework	Relevant Area	Learning Outcome Supported
EYFS	Understanding the World	Weather recognition and impact on routines (rain, clothing)
EYFS	Physical Development	Gross motor activity (jumping, landing, movement in play)
EYFS	Communication & Language	Action words and cause-effect understanding (e.g. jump = splash)
Routes for Learning	Sensory Integration / Cause and Effect	Responses to cold, wet stimuli (tactile and auditory)
Routes for Learning	Choice & Anticipation	Predicting and responding to repeated refrains (“That means…”)
IMPACTS	Sensory Development	Exploring water play, clothing textures (wellies, coats)
IMPACTS	Physical Development	Whole-body movement and coordination outdoors

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I would love to hear how you have used these life skills sensory stories.