All children need regular and ongoing social interactions with their peers to develop socio-emotional skills. For children with autism, play dates are even more important because of the need for lots of practice with social interactions. Talk to your child’s ABA therapist about whether he or she is ready for a playdate.
First, your child should have plenty of practice playing with adults. You can help your child learn about appropriate play and important skills like taking turns and sharing toys. A successful play date requires a child to know how to play with certain toys or games. Your child should also be interested in playing with his or her peers before having a play date outside of the ABA school.
Your child can prepare for successful play dates by joining the social skills classes at The Behavior Exchange. Our behavior analysts in Plano and Frisco guide school-aged children in learning important social skills and developing lasting friendships. Call (888) 716-8084.