Six Tips to Boost the Social Skills of Your Autistic Child

Parenting is a gift like nothing else in this world. The joys of parenthood cannot be put into words, and the same goes for the challenges. Being a parent is one of the most unique experiences in the world, but the challenges of this experience multiply even more when raising a child with a  developmental disability.

According to recent studies, every 1 in 36 children is indicated with autism. Raising someone with autism can seem like the most challenging thing in the world, but there is a silver lining to this. You can help your child improve important skills such as socializing by putting in effort and using the right strategies.

Here are some of the best ways to boost the social skills of your child with autism.

Welcome a Pet

Just because most children with autism have difficulty expressing themselves or paying attention to what they have to say does not mean that they are doing it intentionally. Developing social skills is generally a challenge for children with autism.

Recent studies suggest that children with autism who have pets can develop autism social skills more effectively than others. Pets can be a great partner for autistic children to form bonds and connect emotionally with. They can also connect with other children their age by using their pets as a valuable talking point.

This 2015 study suggests that autistic children with pets are better at introducing themselves, answering questions directed at them, engaging others in conversation, and so on. Hence, it also leads to a better future for them as an independent individual.

Model Good Behavior

The best way to teach your child something is to set practical examples. Autistic children may have a hard time communicating with you, but they are great observers. That is why modeling good behavior and social interactions can be the best way to help them absorb, perform, and model the desired behavior.

You can also induce change in the social behaviors of your child by showing them video clips of model behaviors. Several studies suggest that children with autism can learn better from watching videos than from being counseled about the changes they must make.

Videos are an easy format for these children to remember and replicate. They can willingly replicate the behaviors that they see in these videos that they remember for long after being watched. Over time, replicating the behaviors can improve their social skills.

Practice Communication

In this technology-driven world, finding a solution to any problem online has become so much easier. The solution to every problem lies in your hands and is just one click away. Several applications and online forums have helped parents unlock opportunities to let their autistic children practice speech.

Autism can pose a challenge to a child’s ability to speak freely. Even if your child has great hearing and vision, they may have the hardest time talking about even the things that excite them. These skills can be honed with the help of communication practice.

You can look for these applications available in the application store. These free and paid applications can do a lot to help your child improve their communication skills in a safe and stress-free environment. Some applications also come with a feature to translate text to sound and vice versa for the ease and engagement of children.

Validate Good Behaviors

One of the worst things you can do for your child with autism is to snub them at every turn. Criticism can make them feel guilty about something that is not their fault and slow down their progress even more than before. The most efficient way to keep them engaged is to validate their good behaviors.

If you see your child following your lead and progressing in social interactions, make sure to reinforce them positively. You can give them their favorite treat, praise them, take them to their favorite spot, or do whatever makes them happy as a reward for their progress.

Even simple words of appreciation can become the driving force for your child with autism. Make sure to pay attention to their activities and praise them as soon as they show desirable behaviors. 

Whatever prize you choose to reward them, make sure it is connected with the behavior they displayed to create a clear connection. This connection makes it likelier for them to follow the right path and repeat the desired behavior again.

Practice Improvisation

They say fake it till you make it. This approach does not apply to adults in professional life alone. Children with autism can benefit a lot from this approach. A simple class of improvisation can help them adopt the best social behaviors.

Through their acting classes, you can help your child adapt and display ideal behavior. You can create a wide range of scenarios for them to replicate real-life interactions. It would not take them long to absorb these ways and use them in day-to-day life.

In addition to knowing the right responses, improvising different scenarios also teaches children with autism how to anticipate and react correctly to a variety of emotions. Hence, they will be able to carry on normal social interactions without needing cues.

Avoid Overstimulating

As a parent or a caretaker of an autistic child, you want to do your best to make your autistic child confident in social interactions as soon as possible. This emotion is doubtlessly understandable, but you need to understand that this process cannot be rushed.

Too much interaction for autistic children, especially in vulnerable and unfamiliar circumstances, can overstimulate them, leading to stimming and breakdowns. Repeated interactions can make them avert social interactions.

To avoid overstimulation, it is important to take a softer and more patient approach towards the needs of your child. You can avoid these problems by letting them be a leader in familiar surroundings. Make them in charge of group activities and let them define their own limits. This way, you can ensure confidence and independence for your child.