Social Skills Games and Activities for Kids With Autism
on Goodreads (12)
What’s inside...
Social Skills Games and Activities for Kids With Autism provides instructions for engaging games and activities to teach social skills to children with autism spectrum disorders. It covers assessing skills like asking for toys, getting attention, reading nonverbal gestures, understanding perspectives, and problem-solving cooperation. Using Applied Behavior Analysis principles, the book guides teachers through motivating, prompting, shaping, modeling, and reinforcing social skills during gameplay and other activities like role plays. Ideal for teachers aiding students with autism in social interactions, these games are a valuable addition to daily routines.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-10
Length
216 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you feel about trying some of the games or activities mentioned in this book?
Can you think of a time when one of these activities could have helped you with a difficult situation?
What are some ways you like to interact with others? Are there any activities in the book that seem similar or interesting to you?
Which activity would you like to try first and why?
How do you think these activities could help you make new friends or interact in a group?
Tip: Role play these questions
Before starting a conversation, engage in a calming activity your child enjoys to make them feel at ease.
While discussing, relate to your child’s past experiences where possible to make the concepts more tangible.
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about social interactions, both positive and negative.
Use praise and encouragement to reinforce your child’s engagement with the conversation.
Let your child choose which activities from the book they are interested in trying, fostering a sense of autonomy and confidence.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding emotions
Explanation: The book provides activities that help children identify and express their emotions effectively.
Real-World Application: Children can apply these skills to better communicate their feelings and needs in social interactions at school and home.
Example Lesson: Cooperation
Explanation: Interactive games in the book encourage children to work together, fostering a sense of teamwork.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of collaboration, which is essential in group projects and other team-based activities.
Example Lesson: Following directions
Explanation: Activities are designed to help children with autism follow multi-step instructions, improving their cognitive processing skills.
Real-World Application: Children learn to apply these skills in classroom settings or when completing tasks, enhancing their ability to achieve goals and meet expectations.
Example Lesson: Turn-taking
Explanation: Several games emphasize the importance of waiting for one's turn, a crucial aspect of social interaction.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children engage in polite and respectful interactions, crucial for building and maintaining friendships.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving
Explanation: The book includes problem-solving exercises that challenge the child to find solutions through reasoning.
Real-World Application: These skills help children navigate obstacles they encounter in daily life, fostering independence and resilience.