Why Do We Have Rules

Why do we have rules at home, at school, and in our community?

Rules can feel confusing when children hear what to do without understanding why. Why Do We Have Rules? is a photo-based picture book about rules that helps children ages 3-8 understand how everyday expectations help keep people safe, make activities fair, and help us share spaces.

Using realistic, inclusive photographs and clear, concrete language, this book connects rules to familiar situations at home, in the classroom, on the playground, and out in the community. Children explore the reasons behind rules through examples they can recognize and discuss with a trusted adult.

Inside, children explore:

• How rules help protect ourselves and other people
• Why taking turns and sharing materials help make activities fair
• How our actions affect the people around us
• Why different places may have different rules

Designed with neurodiverse learners in mind

This book supports social skills for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and early elementary learners, including autistic children. Its concrete examples and realistic photographs offer a helpful starting point for adults teaching social skills for autism at home, at school, or in therapy.

For families and educators looking for social stories for behavior or social stories about safety, this book offers a neuroaffirming approach that emphasizes understanding, clear explanations, and meaningful conversation.

Read together, talk about the photographs, and connect the examples to rules your child encounters throughout the day.

Part of the Social Story Picture Books series by Tracy Hilgenfeld, creator of Rainbow Autism Resources.