When you pick up Patty from school or daycare, you always find her alone spinning toys and humming to herself. The teachers say that she’s a joy to have in the class, but you’re frustrated. You’d prefer that Patty would participate with peers. You wish that she could make friends and have fun playing with them. In general, that’s hard for kiddos with autism. However, with coaching and teaching, Patty can become more comfy relating in social situations! Here’s how you can help your honey make friends.
1. Build Comfort: A classroom can be a busy place. Calm Peter’s anxieties by getting down to his level. Allow him to feel comfortable with your presence. Offer him preferred items and follow his lead. Pair yourself with reinforcement.
2. Boost joint attention: If Peter is not a pro at getting, holding and shifting attention when he’s interacting with others, it’s time to strengthen his skills. Mastering joint attention can help him make friends and relate more easily to people! It’s a key component of social, language and cognitive development.
3. Practice playing: To make friends, your Peter has to be able to play with peers. If he prefers to line up blocks by himself rather than take turns during Snakes and Ladders, then help him come out of his shell. Click here for tips on how to teach Peter how to play.
4. Improve social behaviour with books: There are many great resources designed to help your honey better understand social dynamics and expectations. Sit down with your sweetie regularly to review Julia Cook books, Social Skills Activities for Kids, What Can I Say, Get to Know Me Cards, or Superflex.
5. Try video modeling: Does Peter get pumped up for videos? Check out Everyday Speech or Model Me Kids that have real life videos to show him what to say and do to make friends. Afterwards, reenact what you watched to help Peter become fluent with the social behaviour.
6. Get with a program: One of the best ways to help Patty make friends is to enroll her in a social skills program. There, she’ll learn how to have a conversation, take turns and share appropriately, and understand social cues. What’s more, Patty will get to practice these skills with classmates her age.
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