Autism and Social Skills and Play: Preschool Parent Activities for Social Development

Autism is a neurological condition which causes a child to have deficits in the area of social development, among other symptoms. The ability to communicate socially, to understand body language and expression, and to recognize the need for personal space are all social skills that can be (and usually are) affected. Social skills often do not come naturally for a child with Autism. However, these skills can be taught. With that said, there are activities that preschool parents can do with a child with Autism to increase social skills and social development.

The following preschool parent activities can be beneficial when attempting to teach social skills to preschoolers with Autism through play.

• Songs and finger plays encourage social interaction. Be sure to include eye contact while singing and help your child with any hand motions and song lyrics. Music and dancing call for team work. Once again, eye contact and assistance with learning those dance steps can help encourage your child to interact and participate.
• My turn, your turn is a basic way to engage your preschooler with Autism. Incorporate the sign language for 'my turn' and 'your turn' for added understanding. This exercise will be extremely difficult for some children with Autism. Don't give up!
• Encouraging speech and language by requesting, choosing, and wh questions-Spend some time giving your preschooler choices. He can use PECs, sign language, or spoken words to choose and/or request different items. Eventually, plan to add 'wh' questions. For example, ask your preschooler where something is or what something is.
• Floortime, an autism therapy developed by Dr. Stanley Greenspan, is spending time with your child on his level. Play therapy that necessitates interaction is accomplished by following the child's lead while attempting to engage in activities which the child finds motivating.

Without social skills, a child will have a difficult time making friends and living in a normal manner. It takes social skills to interact with other people, to fit in at school successfully, and to find and keep employment. Children with Autism may never fully develop normal social skills, but with a little work, you can encourage social development.