Teaching Connection: The Impact of Social Skills on Children with Autism

Children with autism often struggle with social skills. Understanding social cues, making eye contact, and general connection are among the most common challenges children with autism and related diagnoses face when trying to build meaningful relationships. Social skills programs tailored to children with ASD by using evidence-based evidence in ABA can help bridge the gap between isolation and interaction. By building confidence, encouraging growth, and equipping children with essential tools, social skills programs play a vital role in ensuring lasting success.

What are Social Skills?

Social skills are the abilities that allow individuals to communicate and engage appropriately with others in various social settings. They involve both verbal and nonverbal behaviors and help us navigate social situations in everyday life. These skills allow individuals to build relationships, express needs, understand social cues, and respond appropriately in different environments.

Understanding the Social Hurdles in Autism and the Critical Role of Early Social Development

• Challenges reading social cues or nonverbal communication
• Difficulty making eye contact
• Struggles with conversational skills such as initiating conversation, maintaining conversation, and ending conversation. 
• Difficulty understanding other’s perspectives
• Trouble with taking turns

All of these challenges can be addressed in social skills groups to assist in building self esteem and confidence, along with supporting positive behaviors with reinforcment.

The Role of Social Skills in Early Childhood Development

Introducing and practicing social skills with your children is key to ensuring that they will be able to form positive relationships on their own as they age. This can lead to higher self-esteem and self-worth, confidence, and positive behaviors. It can also have a positive impact on their development cognitively and emotionally. In contrast, those who struggle with social skills may have difficulty in school, connecting with other children, and may even display aggressive behavior. With that being said, the earlier children get started with social skills and interactions, the more likely they are to succeed in understanding social situations as they grow. ​

Benefits of Social Skills

• Improved communication skills
• Improved relationships
• Emotional regulation
• Boosted Self-Confidence
• Supporting positive behavior change

Parents and Caregivers Role in Social Skills with Their Children

• Practice, practice, practice!
  • ​Ensuring your kiddo gets the most out of what they've learned in their social skills groups, continue to practice at home and while you're out and about! This will strengthen and add onto their newly learned skills, leading to more independent and meaningful interations.
• Encouragement
  • ​Being your child's number one supporter means more to them than you know. Children want their parents to be proud of them as much as you want them to be proud of you! Supporting their efforts in social interactions can make a world of difference.
• Positive Reinforcement
  • ​There's no such thing as too much positive reinforcement. Everyone likes to be rewarded for their efforts and success, children and adults alike! Along with encouragement, positive reinforcement can make all the difference when trying to hone in those social skills independently.

Central Coast ABA Social Skills Groups

Central Coast ABA is currently holding our own social skills group! Head over to our Upcoming Events page for more details and how to register today!

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References:

How ABA Therapy Improves Social Skills
How ABA Therapy Improves Social Skills. Empower Behavioral Health. 2023
(www.empowerbh.com/blog/how-aba-therapy-improves-social-skills/)

The Benefits of Social Skills Programs for Children with Autism. Behavioral Innovations.
(https://behavioral-innovations.com/blog/the-benefits-of-social-skills-programs-for-children-with-autism/​)