For children with autism spectrum disorders, social interaction doesn’t come naturally. While it is not uncommon for all children to struggle with social skills, engaging socially can be particularly intimidating and unpleasant for children with autism. The good news is that when social skills aren’t occurring naturally, it is still possible to learn them.
Frequent social interaction is crucial for children with autism for this reason. When given a chance to interact with peers both with autism and without, children get practice at coping in social situations. They learn to share, cooperate, and how to correctly read facial expressions and voice tones. Below are some examples of ways to connect with others:
- Be Polite
- Smile and introduce yourself
- Lend a helping hand
- Have a positive attitude
- Admit mistakes
- Respect others personal space
- Let someone go first
- Listen without interrupting
- Use manners/be polite
- Take turns
At The Behavior Exchange, social skills groups are part of our applied behavior analysis approach to dealing with autism. To learn more about the importance of social interaction for children with autism and to visit our center, call (888) 716-8084.