Tips on helping Your Child with ASD Socialize.
- First observe your child when playing with others and make a note of specific skills that should be taught. (You may want to seek out a Social Skills Group or Instructor to help assess and teach these skills)
- Provide learning opportunities to practice the skill. (It's best to have the activity be one of your child's interests)
- Give your child the tools and language skills needed to be successful in cooperative play situations. (have a game night at home to practice turn taking and expected behavior.
- Move from structured to unstructured play dates. The adults direct the play in the structured model and then as the children get to know one another adult involvement can be faded.
- Children with ASD need to establish the rules prior to game play. They will be more successful knowing what to expect.
- In community settings review the expected behavior, for example at the bowling alley, movies, restaurants etc.
- Ultimately, the goal is to keep expanding your child's Social Skills to where they can take an interest in others and have reciprocal friendships. It's important that they learn some social thinking skills to help decipher what's happening in social situations and how to respond for positive interactions.
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