A new teacher. A new room. A new place for the bag. For many neurodivergent children, the first day isn't about learning — it's about surviving twenty new variables at once. A personalised visual story turns the morning into something they've already walked through. The real first day becomes the second time.
This is a 14-page sample we made for a hypothetical child named Lily — built end-to-end in Lionmain so you can see exactly what your export looks like. Watch the video, or download the PDF. When you make yours, your child takes the lead role with their own photo, name and details.
Use your child's real name and their teacher's real name — "Mrs Allen in Room 4" lands harder than "the teacher".
Name the building and the door they'll walk through. Specifics turn a story into a rehearsal.
Show where their bag goes, where they sit, and where the bathroom is — the three things kids quietly worry about.
Include a "if I feel wobbly" page — a quiet corner, a fidget, or asking for a break. Knowing the option exists is enough.
Mention one familiar thing: a water bottle from home, a friend they already know, the snack they like.
End with what happens after school — who picks them up, where they go. The day having a known ending is what makes the start feel safe.
Include these in your story so they aren't surprises:
The noise of a new room — chairs scraping, voices echoing in different ways.
Unfamiliar smells — new carpet, new books, hand sanitiser.
Bright lights or new lighting (mention sunglasses or a hat if helpful).
The uniform feeling different — tags, shoes, a stiffer jumper.
Not knowing where to look or who to sit next to in the first ten minutes.
Add their name, their photo, and the real details of their new classroom — and Lionmain creates a personalised version in about three minutes. Your first story is free.
Create our first-day story →