Description

Going to a restaurant can be an exciting experience for children, but it can also feel overwhelming. Waiting for food, sitting at the table, and interacting with restaurant staff can be unfamiliar for some students.

This Going to a Restaurant Social Story and Companion Activity Pack helps children understand what happens during a restaurant visit while learning appropriate restaurant behaviors and social expectations.

In this engaging story, siblings Ava and Eli visit a restaurant and learn how to order food, wait patiently, use good manners, and interact politely with restaurant staff.

The story explains restaurant routines in a calm, predictable way so children can feel confident and prepared before visiting a restaurant.

This resource was created by a former special educator and autism parent and is designed for students who benefit from visual supports, structured routines, and clear social expectations.

What’s Included Social Story

A step-by-step social narrative explaining what happens during a restaurant visit.

Students learn about:

• arriving at the restaurant
• waiting to be seated
• looking at the menu
• ordering food
• waiting patiently for meals
• using polite manners
• thanking restaurant staff
• cleaning up their space

The story models positive restaurant behavior while helping children understand what to expect in a dining environment.

Companion Activity Pack

The companion activities reinforce restaurant routines and social expectations.

Activities include:

• Parent and teacher guide
• Restaurant reflection worksheet
• Identifying restaurant staff and roles
• Good manners discussion page
• Restaurant behavior activities
• Maze activity
• Word search
• Coloring pages
• Reflection worksheet for discussing restaurant experiences
• Restaurant Star award certificate

These activities help students practice social skills, patience, and positive restaurant behavior.

Skills Addressed

This resource supports development of:

• social skills
• life skills
• community behavior
• waiting and patience
• communication skills
• manners and etiquette
• following routines
• independence

IEP Goals This Resource May Support Social Skills Goals

Student will demonstrate understanding of appropriate behaviors in community settings.

Life Skills Goals

Student will identify steps involved in visiting a restaurant.

Communication Goals

Student will answer comprehension questions about a restaurant routine.

Emotional Regulation Goals

Student will demonstrate patience and appropriate waiting behaviors.

Independence Goals

Student will demonstrate increased comfort with community outings.

Who This Resource Is For

Perfect for:

• Autism classrooms
• Special education classrooms
• Life skills instruction
• Social skills groups
• Occupational therapy sessions
• Speech therapy sessions
• Parents preparing children for community outings

Especially helpful for students who:

• need help understanding restaurant expectations
• benefit from visual supports and social narratives
• are learning community social skills

File Details

This resource is a digital download.

Included files combined:

• Printable Restaurant Social Story PDF
• Printable Companion Activity Pack PDF

Teachers often use these materials for:

• life skills instruction
• social skills lessons
• community preparation
• calm corners
• home preparation before dining out

Copyright

Adventures of Ava & Eli series © AvaHasAutism
All rights reserved.

This resource includes symbols from Boardmaker® Picture Communication Symbols (PCS)
Boardmaker PCS © Tobii Dynavox, LLC. Used with permission.