Social Skills.

 

Watching neurotypical developing children, it is amazing how easily they seem to pick up social skills. For our children with autism though it just does not come naturally. From imitation to eye contact to engaging with parents, siblings or friends, to sharing and turn-taking, the social skills list can tend to be quite overwhelming. 

This month at EAP, we hope to provide a basic outline of how we teach our children basic Social Skills. We usually recommend starting with an adult (adults tend to be more predictable than children) on a one-to-one basis (when we do it individually there is more opportunity for the child to attend and for us to focus completely on that child). 

We will be highlighting how to teach your child to take turns and to share, to initiate and respond to greetings, to get people’s attention APPROPRIATELY, to read gestures and facial expressions, assertiveness, initiating short conversation and learning to interact with another child. 

Do note that our articles are just a highlight or an overview and as clinicians, we always individualise each programme to the child’s level, we break down the skill so it’s easy to catch and we always provide sufficient opportunity to learn. Social Skills do take a long time to learn and our children need repeated opportunities to practice and then to generalize. It is so rewarding though when you see your child start to look at you in the eye, tap your arm to get your attention or point out something to you. 

All the best and please do not hesitate to email us at autismmalaysia@gmail.com or contact us by telephone at 2094 0421 if you have any enquiries or would like further training in this area. 

Jochebed Isaacs

Director, EAP Malaysia.