If your autistic child frequently struggles with social interactions and communication, know that you are not alone. Social skills for autistic kids are not accomplished without additional support. And it’s worth the time, investment, and effort to see them reach far in social skills development autism!
That said, when it comes to teaching social skills to autistic children, what should you focus on? While you organize social skills activities for an autistic child, do focus on those that support their emotional growth. This guide will help you break down social skills training autism.
Social Skills for Autistic Kids: A Helpful Guide for Parents and Caregivers
Whether it’s interacting with other kids at the playground or spending some quality time with grandparents, children need communication skills to navigate different types of social interactions on a daily basis.
Social skill gaps due to autism spectrum disorder rarely resolve by themselves. With time, an autistic child will become more socially awkward if you do not gently introduce social skills in their life. These not only help in building friendships for autistic kids but also foster emotional regulation and passion for exploring new interests. These are the skills to focus on:
1. Understanding Emotions
Improving social skills in autism-diagnosed children involves teaching emotions, and using everyday scenarios for them to learn and process. Identifying happiness, sadness, anger, and other emotions comes naturally to children as they grow—only those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a harder time showcasing how they feel.
For autistic children with speech delay, a plethora of emotions may come forward, such as sadness, anger, and frustration. They may throw a tantrum, lie on the floor, and even hit people around them—all reactions stemming from their inability to express the correct emotions.
Therefore, it is imperative that they know multiple nonverbal communication methods to express how they feel. Behavior therapy is a great way to practice expressing and understanding emotions, so they experience social interaction more comfortably.
2. Expressing Empathy
The skill of empathy comes to a person during the toddler stage, growing as they understand emotions and reactions further. For a child with Autism, empathy is a more complex social skill to conquer. They may need additional practice and reinforcement to express empathy, involving both verbal and non-verbal cues.
If you want your child to display empathetic behavior to progress well in social situations, introduce both at-home cues and add them to social skills groups for autistic children. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) methods of therapy involve teaching social and communication skills that improve the expression of empathy.
3. Eye Contact and Gestures
The display of confidence in social interactions starts with eye contact and body language. Additionally, eye contact also shows others that you are interested in what they have to say, thus a key part of improving social skills in autism.
These social factors are as important for kids as they are for adults. And, where an autistic child finds it difficult to maintain eye contact, know that this social skill is one that can be taught. Use these social skills activities for autistic kids to help them develop good eye contact:
- Go for positive reinforcement whenever your child does make eye contact.
- Be a role model. Maintain eye contact in conversations in front of the child.
- Engage your child in conversations about their favorite subjects.
- Gently direct the child to make eye contact (e.g. briefly tilting their head up).
- Start eye contact training with people they are comfortable with (parents and siblings).
Know that adding pressure or simply demanding eye contact in every conversation is counterproductive. Instead, apply these autism social skills patiently but regularly.
4. Impulse Control
Impulse control comes gradually to children, maturing between the ages of 7 and 10. Therefore, lack of self-control is not a wholly troubling sign that a child below these ages is not progressing. However, your child should display some level of understanding of the difference between yes and no.
It’s helpful to keep practicing communication skills which involve reminding kids about impulse control. In the case of an autistic child with a severe lack of self-control, use visual aids and structured routines for precise learning.
5. Patience and Cooperation
Due to difficulty in focus and impulse control, pay extra attention to one of the key teaching social skills to autistic children: patience. And where there is patience, there’s cooperation. These social skills are vital because waiting for turns and acknowledging peers’ wants are key parts of a child’s social interaction.
Both consistent role-play and social stories, and behavior therapy can address social issues of patience and cooperation in autistic children.
Don’t be disheartened if your child cannot get along with other kids due to problems with cooperating. With time and regular therapeutic activities, they can learn and practice patience, understanding, and teamwork.
6. Listening and Focusing
Have you observed an autistic child zoning out while other kids are focusing on something? Know that it may not be due to a lack of interest or boredom, but an overload of sensory information.
According to experts, children without autism can focus on a particular sight or sound amongst an array of others. Conversely, a child with autism will find it difficult to focus on everyday tasks with auditory and visual noise. Since listening and comprehension help kids make their way through social interactions and friendships with ease, these autism social skills should be practiced since toddlerhood.
This involves creating an environment with excessive sensory overload for them to learn. Train the child to ignore the background by starting with minimal distractions—and adding more noise as they progress. Consistent Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) sessions covering social skills curriculum for autism are also effective in teaching listening and comprehension.
7. Asking for Help
Asking for help can be a challenge for children with autism spectrum disorder, as is recognizing when help is necessary. Part of building autism social skills involves helping your child understand how valuable it is to have someone lend a hand.
You can do this by highlighting the benefits of reaching out for help when needed. Present your child with challenging tasks, and let them attempt to resolve these as much as possible before offering help. Additionally, social skills training autism concerning asking for help often requires professional intervention—particularly ABA therapy.
How to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children
Teaching social skills to autistic children means giving them the tools for successfully navigating social situations—and thriving in life. Here are some ways that you can work on social skills for autistic kids:
- Daily Conversations and Actions: Involving them in everyday conversations and activities helps an autistic child develop confidence and a sense of belonging.
- Social Stories for Autism: Social stories help autistic children grasp social situations in a way that resonates with them so that they understand social cues that others notice easily.
- Professional Behavior Therapy: Behavior therapy helps address negative social behaviors, and reinforce positive ones with role play and real scenarios.
- Group-Setting Social Skills: Effective social skills development autism involves group therapy with a trained behavior analyst (BCBA).
Small Steps Big Dreams: Helping Autistic Children Overcome Social Challenges
When planning social skills for autistic kids, remember that every child approaches these skills in their own way. Some are easier to master, while others are more challenging and may take some time.
At Small Steps, we offer different therapy services to help your child experience social interactions with ease, make friends, and have well-functioning relationships. Reach out to us today—call us at +971556106471 or drop us a message to talk to us about your child’s needs.