Play and Social Skills Group for Children with Autism

What is Social Skill?

Social skills refer to the abilities and behaviors that enable individuals to interact effectively and appropriately with others in social situations. These skills include the ability to communicate, express emotions, understand social norms, and form and maintain positive relationships with others.

For school-aged children with autism, social skills can be challenging to develop and maintain due to the deficits in social communication and interaction that are characteristic of the disorder. Children with autism often struggle with understanding social cues, interpreting nonverbal communication, and initiating and maintaining social interactions with peers.

However, social skills training programs can be effective in helping children with autism develop social competence. These programs typically involve teaching specific social skills through role-playing, modeling, and reinforcement techniques. For example, a child with autism may be taught how to make eye contact, initiate a conversation, or join a group of peers during recess.

It’s important to note that social skills training should be individualized and tailored to the specific needs and abilities of each child. Additionally, social skills training should be provided in a supportive and positive environment that encourages the child to practice and apply their newly learned skills in real-life situations.

Play is fun! However, many special educators and practitioners like me would agree it’s quite a skill to teach. They are THE skills to teach.

Assessment and Understanding Social Skills

Assessing and understanding social skills can be an important process for individuals who struggle with social interactions, such as those with autism, social anxiety, or other social communication disorders. There are a variety of methods for assessing and understanding social skills, including:

Direct observation: One approach to assessing social skills is through direct observation of the individual’s behavior in social situations. This can involve observing the individual in naturalistic settings, such as in school or community settings, or in structured social situations, such as during social skills training.
Self-report measures: Another approach is to use self-report measures, such as questionnaires or surveys, to assess the individual’s perceptions of their own social skills and social functioning.
Standardized tests: There are a variety of standardized tests available for assessing social skills, such as the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), the Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS), or the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS).
Interviews: Interviews with the individual, their parents, or other caregivers can also provide valuable information about the individual’s social skills and functioning, as well as any specific challenges they may be experiencing.

Once social skills have been assessed, it is important to develop an understanding of the individual’s strengths and weaknesses in order to identify specific areas for improvement. This may involve working with a therapist or social skills trainer to develop a targeted intervention plan that focuses on developing specific social skills and addressing any underlying difficulties, such as anxiety or sensory processing issues.

It’s important to note that developing social skills is a gradual process that requires practice and reinforcement over time. Therefore, ongoing assessment and monitoring of social skills is important in order to track progress and make adjustments as needed.

Play and Social Skills Group

When setting up the playgroup, we should include all team members for support and understanding, like parents, specialists, and administrators. Let’s plan systematically based on the research and assessment, and execute the plan consistently for the best result. Progress monitoring using data forms would not only help the adults plan and revise the group as moving along but also provide valuable information on the benefits of the social skills group for children with autism.

Suggested Games/Activities

For the novice players like many children with autism, it’s always safe to start with simple file folder games and turn-taking games with 2-3 expert players. If we want to move toward solid parallel play with peers, it’s okay to bring a box of playdoh, floor puzzles, Lego blocks, etc. to begin with. They are simple, yet both players can enjoy them. Let’s start with building from a fun time together with fewer expectations.