Basic social interaction, guidance on ways to help people connect with other people and form friendships. Includes social cues, reactions, nonverbal cues, feelings, body language, and facial expressions.
I walked into his room. Tears poured down my cheeks against my will. I couldn’t help it. My son, whose meltdown and unkind words were the inspiration for my tears, looked at me with shock. He ran to me and put his arms around me and said he was sorry. I hugged him back and
in Social Skills by Rachel Andersen
A lack of empathy is often erroneously described as a defining characteristic of autism spectrum disorder, leading to speculation about children on the spectrum developing antisocial personality disorders in adulthood. “Autistic people and psychopaths are almost the opposite of each other…” This remark, made by Professor Baron-Cohen during an interview for the Autism Parenting Summit
in Social Skills by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
As parents there are many questions we ask ourselves when it comes to our children with autism and, in this article, we will discuss one of those questions: how does autism affect social skills? We want what is best for our children, and with so many articles and books describing autism, ways to help improve
in Social Skills by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
Becky beamed as she walked out the front door of her friend’s house, hurried down the steps and out to her mom’s car. The excitement of the party was overshadowed a bit by another kind of happiness—triumph. She had survived the party without an anxiety attack, for the first time ever. Social anxiety had been
in Social Skills by Rachel Andersen
The sound of Johnny’s laughter reverberated off the walls of the RV they had rented for the weekend. Camping was a rarity in their family, as was the sound of his giggles. His mother, Connie, drank in the sound; it was as comforting and welcome as her morning cup of coffee. Since his autism diagnosis
in Social Skills by Rachel Andersen
An autistic advocate draws from her personal experiences to offer advice on remaining true as a friend and building lasting relationships. “Once, at the ANCA World Autism Festival in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, a very sweet and gentle Japanese lady—no older than her early-twenties—sat next to me during the screening of a documentary film. We sat
in Social Skills by Marcelle Ciampi, MEd
How to help children become aware of social cues that could be beneficial when faced with challenging situations. Suppose an individual with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is aware of what he/she wants and is outspoken—how can we help him/her adjust (or use a softened approach for) how he/she voices views and opinions? If we focus
in Social Skills by Karen Kaplan, MS
An overview of rejection sensitive dysphoria, a condition that causes an intense emotional response to real or perceived rejection, and its possible connection to autism spectrum disorder. I watched in slow motion as my son Owen fell head first into the side of the open french door. The blood curdling screams that followed were nothing
in Social Skills by Rachel Andersen
Parents with children on the spectrum often speak about their kids’ difficulty recognizing faces, even those of friends and relatives. Face blindness, or prosopagnosia, means a person cannot recognize that they’ve seen a face before; this condition, found in many on the spectrum, may have serious psychosocial consequences. What do you see when you look
in Social Skills by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
When someone is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), social cues, language skills and the ability to decipher what the other person or people are expecting, socially, can be difficult or misconstrued. This can equate to a delay in social skills as well as related behaviors, expectations, and interactions. What is social behavior? Social behavior
in Social Skills by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
Advice often means more when it comes from someone who has walked in your shoes. Perhaps these tips for making friends from an autistic teen will spark some inspiration! There’s a common misconception that autistic girls are anti-social and don’t want to have friends. This is untrue. Most of us want to have social lives,
in Social Skills by Siena Castellon, BCyA
Friendships can form at all stages of life, but the process of making friends can be challenging for children with autism. All friendships are defined differently in every stage of life. Toddlers and preschool-age friends have less requirements and less expectations than teenagers and adults. The older you become, the more complex relationships become. Relationships
in Social Skills by Kendra Pitman Smith
A psychology and mental health expert shares her top tips for how you can help your autistic child develop good social skills. While it’s a common myth that autism causes a child to be anti-social, children with autism need and want to make friends. However, they lack essential communication skills to function socially with peers.
in Social Skills by Liz Talton
Follow the account of an autism mom whose daughter, despite attending various therapies, began to revert to previous behaviors due to social anxiety. My youngest daughter is autistic and suffers from social anxiety. At first, I thought the characteristics she was exhibiting was a part of her diagnosis, so I was not concerned about the
in Social Skills by Kendra Pitman Smith
As COVID-19 restrictions continue, here’s how to make use of resources in the comfort of your own home for developing your child’s social-emotional skills. COVID-19 has impacted all children, but some children, including those on the spectrum, may have been affected more dramatically than others. Children with autism often find it hard to: Recognize emotions,
in Social Skills by Tania DaSilva
Eye contact avoidance is an issue that troubles many parents with children on the spectrum. Should your child with autism be encouraged to make eye contact; and how should the child’s avoidance be managed without inducing anxiety or stress? These and other controversial questions are sometimes answered with a narrow, neurotypical view. Neurotypical society puts
in Social Skills by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Halloween can be a fun and exciting time of the year for many children. It can be a time of parties and candy. However, transitions between various activities and sudden changes in daily routines can be particularly upsetting for some children with autism. Parents, however, can help to alleviate some of these stresses by utilizing
in Social Skills by Ron Malcolm, EdD
Play is very complex, especially when teaching children with autism, but it is essential to social skills development. Children naturally engage in play on the playground at recess; however, for children with autism, play does not come as easily. The playground is unpredictable, loud, chaotic, and can be an extremely overwhelming place for a child
in Social Skills by Annette Nuñez, PhD
The lazy summer mornings are but a distant memory as kids are returning to school for another year and their mothers rejoice at the thought of some well-earned peace and quiet once more. So why, when our little ones are getting back into a stable routine that helps keep them grounded, are so many moms
in Social Skills by Ruthangela Bernadette
Many children with disabilities struggle to make friends at school, church, or within their neighborhoods. Children with autism are no different. Nothing hurts the heart of parents more than witnessing the social isolation that their child with autism may be experiencing daily. So, how can parents help? Here is a list of ten practical suggestions
in Social Skills by Ron Malcolm, EdD
Recess is often thought of as a break for both teachers and children. It is a time for teachers to take a breather, eat a snack, go to the bathroom, check emails, etc. As for children, recess is seen as a time for them to “let some energy out.” However, after spending ten years observing
in Social Skills by Annette Nuñez, PhD
When I was younger, just a child, I used to spend a lot of time in front of the TV. When I became a teenager and discovered the magic of movies and films, I would try to watch them as much as possible. I didn’t think about this until recently but watching TV and movies
in Social Skills by Alan DD
The playground represents a time for having fun where children laugh, play, run around, and form friendships. However, for a child with autism the playground is like being lost in a foreign country without knowing the language. The playground is chaotic, unpredictable, loud, and over-stimulating. We often see children with autism walking the perimeter of
in Social Skills by Annette Nuñez, PhD
Cats are lovable and cute, but what most people don’t know is that these furry animals can help children with autism improve their social skills. Cats bond with the children by providing affection and attention which promotes healthy relationships. Parents with children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) might not want to get their child
in Social Skills by Betti Wilson
The word “playdate” is a dreaded word for many autism families. I know numerous families that will avoid playdates for several reasons. Many parents think their child cannot participate in them because they lack the play, social, and verbal skills to be successful. Some parents will not schedule playdates because they are not themselves social.
in Social Skills by Annette Nuñez, PhD
Most parents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children want them to have effective social coaching in school to supplement what’s done at home. School Individualized Education Programs (IEP) usually include groups using social learning curriculum. How do we assess whether the child is learning effective skills? Are there any possible negative effects of social skills instruction, or
in Social Skills by Marcia Eckerd, PhD
What Are Social Skills? Social skills refer to a child’s ability to communicate with others in a way that is acceptable and appropriate for social situations. When a child has social skills, he/she can form friendships and can carry a simple conversation. Social Skills and Autism It’s a common misconception that children with autism do
in Social Skills by Kim Barloso, AB
Friendships have an important role to play in our overall well-being and quality of life. Unfortunately, many children with autism do not establish friendships and continue to have difficulties doing so once they get into their teen years. A recent study in the Journal of Autism, reported that teenagers and adults who have a diagnosis
in Social Skills by Sarah Kupferschmidt, MA, BCBA
Dating can be filled with stress and insecurity, but what happens when you add to this the fact that your date has Asperger’s syndrome? What should you do and what should you not do? How can you make things work? Here are 10 points to keep in mind when falling in love with one of
in Social Skills by Alan DD
A friend’s teen daughter who has high functioning autism enjoys her bird pets. She is aware of their heartbeats and she notices their beautiful eyelashes. Most wouldn’t see these special elements of birds. Maria’s sensitivity is an amazing gift and her caring for all animals is inspiring. Animals are great healers for many children, especially
in Social Skills by Paula Timpson, MSE
My 8-year-old son with autism loves his little brother and wants to play with him, but he has difficulty sharing, is overly-affectionate, and his screaming is so off-putting. How can I encourage their relationship as siblings? – Priya Hi Priya, I love that you want to help foster the brotherly bond between your boys! It
in Social Skills by Angelina M., MS, BCBA, LMFT
My name is Leanne — I’m 23 years old and I have Asperger’s syndrome. I have heard that social stories help lot of kids (and maybe even adults) on the autism spectrum to be better able to handle transitions, upcoming events, and activities that most children (and adults) are able to handle easily. I remember during one
in Social Skills by Leanne Strong
Many parents of children with autism enjoy the various advantages that homeschooling affords, especially in the social arena. It provides a fluid opportunity for practical socialization at quantities dictated by individual need and quality as defined by your family’s values. It takes place in the real world so it is difficult to replicate in other
in Social Skills by Annie Eskeldson
Having good manners is an important social skill everyone needs. Most of us know that it’s not acceptable to push someone out of the way to get what we want, to cut in front of a line, to talk loudly on a cell phone during a movie, to talk with our mouths full, or to
in Social Skills by Lori Granieri, MA
The relevance of social skills among autistic people cannot be overemphasized as it has enabled them to interact and be independent in society. It is crystal clear that contemporary society has failed to provide enough support for people with learning disability as most societal structures assume that everyone in the society is able, and in
in Social Skills by Ayodeji Oyewale, MSc
Rick walks into his classroom, and he is angry. He throws his backpack across the classroom while yelling that he is going to “mess up” Jeremy because Jeremy played his music too loudly on the bus. His classmates look at him with fear in their eyes, and Twyla asks her teacher if Rick is going
in Social Skills by Jamie Carter, PhD
Welcome back to Social Skills Corner. For the July issue, we are going to describe ways you can help your child manage crowded events in general and July 4th celebrations, specifically. We will begin with an example of what can occur if you and your family try to attend large events without adequate preparation. Mary
in Social Skills by Jamie Carter, PhD
Social skills are especially difficult for teens on the autism spectrum, but many of these skills can be learned, and with practice, can become habit. Social skills are critical in order to make friends, get a job, and to live a fulfilling life. Research from Harvard University says social skills are the top factor for
in Social Skills by Kirt Manecke
Socializing forms a big part of our everyday lives. From exchanging polite conversation with strangers to cementing lasting relationships with our family and friends, the ability to talk and engage with our peers is an incredibly useful skill to have. But for those with autism, being social doesn’t always come naturally. Children usually pick up
in Social Skills by Sam Flatman
Welcome to Social Skills Corner. We have been working with families for many years. Parents frequently express concerns about their children not having friends or not knowing how to interact with other people either individually or in groups. We want you to be able to help your child to make friends and improve social interactions
in Social Skills by Jamie Carter, PhD
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