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At the supermarket entrance, Grandma tucks a small card into Lina's pocket and points to a worker in a green apron.

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At the supermarket entrance, Grandma tucks a small card into Lina's pocket and points to a worker in a green apron.

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11-picture wordless story · safety steps

When I Can't See My Grown-up

In the supermarket, Lina wanders toward the pinwheels and loses sight of Grandma. She stops, looks around, finds a worker in a green apron, shows her card and waits at the help desk until Grandma comes.

7 languages11 scenesPDF + ZIPA4 / US Letter
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Compare optionsDigital download. No physical product will be shipped.One household or one professional

What’s included

One purchase includes all seven languages. Choose the file language independently of the website.

when-i-cant-see-my-grown-up-story-pack_en_v1.0.0.zipEverything in one ZIP
  • Complete story and activity packA4_en_story-pack.pdf · A4 · 36 pages
  • Complete story and activity packUS-Letter_en_story-pack.pdf · US Letter · 36 pages
  • Screen storyScreen_en_story-pack.pdf · Screen · 13 pages

Inside the story pages

  • Start here and adult guide: choosing pages, printing and running the activity
  • Wordless story: 11 full-page pictures
  • Short-text story: one short sentence for each of the 11 scenes
  • 11 color picture cards with cut lines, no numbers on the front
  • Conversation prompts written for this story
  • One possible story order: an adult reference, not a score sheet
  • Low-ink activity mats for retelling, before and after, and new endings
  • Home practice page you may share with the families you support
  • Credits and license

What happens in the story

Before shopping, Grandma puts a card in Lina's pocket and points out a worker in a green apron. While Grandma picks apples, Lina wanders towards some pinwheels. When she turns around, Grandma isn't there. Lina stops and stays where she is. She spots a worker in a green apron, shows her card, and the worker walks her to the help desk. Lina waits while the worker calls, and Grandma hurries over for a big hug. They thank the worker, and at home Lina plays "helper" with her teddy.

The story turns a scary moment into a short list of steps a child can remember: stop, look, find a worker, show your card, wait.

Who it's for

  • Parents and carers who want to talk about getting separated in busy places without frightening their child.
  • Autistic children and children who may find it hard to speak when worried: the card and the pointing steps don't need words.
  • Preschool and kindergarten teachers covering personal safety or "people who help us".
  • Speech-language pathologists working on sequencing, requesting help or retelling an eleven-step event.

Skills you can practise

  • Safety steps in order: stop, look, find a worker, show the card, wait.
  • Spotting helpers: what do the worker's apron and badge show?
  • Requesting help by showing a card, pointing or speaking.
  • Vocabulary: stop, look, worker, card, wait, found.
  • Talking about feelings that change: worried, waiting, relieved.

A 10-minute session

  1. Start with four pictures: out of sight, stopping, showing the card and being found.
  2. Name each step as you point: "Stop. Look. Find a worker. Show the card. Wait."
  3. Add the helper pictures (seeing the worker, walking to the desk, waiting) to show each step in more detail.
  4. Ask why staying in one place might help someone find you more easily.
  5. Wonder about feelings in pictures 3, 8 and 9. More than one answer can make sense.

Make it easier or harder

  • Easier: use just three pictures: out of sight, showing the card, the hug.
  • Harder: retell all eleven scenes, then make a step strip together and practise it with a toy in a pretend shop.
  • Extend: walk around a real shop together and spot the workers and the help desk.

Try it at home

Agree your own family plan for busy places: who counts as a helper there, where to wait and what goes on your child's card. Practise it calmly, and avoid frightening "stranger" messages.

Pairs well with

Activities in this pack

Adult modelingPicture choicesPointing, gesture or words

Choosing this pack

Use together with an adult. Choose a comfortable way to look at pictures and communicate. No reading or spoken answer is required.

  1. Out of sight

    1 · 2 · 3 · 4

  2. Finding a helper

    5 · 6 · 7 · 8

  3. Together again

    9 · 10 · 11

Shorter story sequence

Use these scenes from the full story, in this order: 3 → 4 → 6 → 9

Activity focus

Safety stepsRequesting help

Use all the scenes, or start with a shorter selection and add more as you go.

Words to explore

stop · look · worker · card · wait · found

Choose a starting point

Use pictures 3, 4, 6 and 9 for a short telling: out of sight, stop, ask, found. Add pictures 5, 7 and 8 to show each helper step.

An optional extension

Retell all eleven scenes, then make a step strip together and practise it with a toy in a pretend shop.

Invitations to talk and explore

Name the steps

Stop. Look. Find a worker. Show the card. Wait. Point to the picture for each step.

Spot the helpers

Who in the pictures could help? What do the worker's apron and badge show?

Why stay?

Why might staying in one place make it easier to be found?

Feelings can change

How might Lina feel in pictures 3, 8 and 9? More than one answer can make sense.

Connect with everyday life

Agree your own family plan for busy places: who counts as a helper there, where to wait, and what goes on the child's card. Practise it calmly and avoid frightening 'stranger' messages.

How to use it

  1. Use pictures 3, 4, 6 and 9 for a short telling: out of sight, stop, ask, found. Add pictures 5, 7 and 8 to show each helper step.
  2. Model one idea, pause, and accept pointing, gesture, speech or a familiar communication system.
  3. Offer the extension only when it is useful and enjoyable. Pausing, repeating and stopping are valid choices.

Sources & permissions

Original story concepts and illustrations

Original stories and activities by StoryTalkKit.

Original production, not adapted from a third-party story.

Each license is for one household or one individual professional. Professionals may share pages marked “Home practice” with the families they work with.

A few helpful answers

What should a child do if they get lost in a store?

The story models one calm plan: stop and stay where you are, look for a worker (here, someone in a green apron), show the card in your pocket, and wait at the help desk. Every family and place is different, so agree your own plan for the places you go.

Does the story use "stranger danger" messages?

No. It focuses on who can help (store workers in uniform) rather than on frightening ideas about strangers. The adult guide suggests practising your plan calmly and avoiding scary messages.

What is the card in Lina's pocket?

Before shopping, Grandma puts a small card in Lina's pocket. In the story Lina shows it to the worker, who uses it to call for Grandma. Many families use a card with a name and phone number, especially for children who may find it hard to speak when worried.

Do I need a printer?

Not necessarily. You can look through the story together on a screen. To use the picture cards, print them on A4 or US Letter paper; low-ink pages help save toner.

Does my child need to speak or read?

No. Children can join in by pointing, gesturing, choosing a picture or using words. The adult guide shows how to model language and leave time for a response.

Which story should we start with?

Start with a 4-scene story such as Lost Ball or The Wet Painting. When putting four pictures in order feels easy, move on to 6- or 8-scene stories. Choose by interest and attention rather than age.

Can I use the packs with my students or clients?

Yes. One license covers one household, or one individual professional using the materials with the children and families they support. Pages marked Home practice can be shared with those families. A whole school or team needs one license per professional.

Which languages are the files in?

Every pack is available in English, Spanish, French, German, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese (Taiwan) and Brazilian Portuguese. One purchase includes all seven languages.

Is this a therapy program?

No. These are educational story materials. Speech therapists and educators can use them in their sessions, but the packs do not diagnose, assess or replace individual professional support.

Educational resources for use with an adult. Not a diagnostic tool or a substitute for individualized professional care.