One of the key characteristics of autism is difficulty with social skills and communication. To improve friendship-making skills parents usually enroll their kid in a social skills group. It seems like a logical thing to do.
In my years as a therapist, I’ve seen kids do well and other kids do not so well in a social skills group.
Social skills groups are great for kids with ASD but you don’t want it to backfire!
Social Skills Groups: Are they right for your child?
Here is a guideline to help you decide if your kid is ready for a social skills group. You will also find tips to prepare them for group sessions and learn how to help them have a good experience.
What Do Social Skills Groups Do
People with autism can struggle with social skills. Contributing factors include sensory issues, not interpreting nonverbal cues, speech delays or not showing interest in others.
The good news is that kids can learn social skills. It takes a bit more support and guidance but kids can learn to talk with others and make friends.
Social skills groups are a tool often used to learn social skills. Groups usually are small in size with kids around the same age. Groups are lead by several therapists.
During group time kids learn simple skills like greeting each other and asking to play. They also learn how to take turns, share toys, and pretend play through group activities. Groups also teach how to be aware of others and process social interactions.
Usually, the group follows the same routine so it is predictable. They have access to things to help them get regulated for group time and have breaks. Kids also have goals to work towards.
Is Your Child Ready For A Social Skills Group
Kids can be great teachers for each other. Adults do a good job of showing youngsters how to do things like greet people or pretend play. There’s something about being around others that are your same age though. Grown-ups can’t imitate that!
Kids learning to socialize together seems like the natural thing to do when they lack social skills. So how can you tell if your child is ready to attend a social skills group?
- Child shows an interest in others, especially kids
- Your son or daughter talks to others
- He or she can be left with others without any issues of you being gone
If your child likes to be around people or expresses wanting to make friends a social skills group is a good fit for them. They might not know how to approach a kid on the playground or only stick to certain topics when talking to others. A social skills group can help improve their people skills.
On the other hand, you might want your kid to make friends but they may:
- Not show any interest in people
- Be anxious if left in a group without you
- Prefers to play with their high-interest activities and not kids
These may be signs that your child is not quite ready for a social skills group. If this is the case it might be best to wait. That’s not to say your child can’t go to a group eventually. They may need to work on some social skills 1:1 with you or a therapist at home before going out into the community.
It is advisable to send your kid to a social skills group when it’s a comfortable situation for them. That way it will fun and enjoyable rather than dreaded.
Preparing For Social Group
Most kids that are ready to go to a social group look forward to it and have fun. It’s a safe environment to be with other kids!
It’s still good to help your prepare your child for their social group so they have a great experience. These tips can set your kid up for success:
- Meet with the group leaders before the social group sessions start and check out the space.
- Talk with the group leaders about goals for your child and tips that help your kid have a good experience.
- Ask the group leaders about group routine, visuals, and regulation breaks and what to expect so you can talk to your kid about it.
- Write a social story about starting a social skills group.
- Send any helpful tools with your child to group like a calming kit, noise-canceling headphones, or snack.
How To Have A Good Social Skills Group Experience
Once your kiddo starts group they will be learning many new things. From new faces to being challenged to try new things your child might be pushed out of their comfort zone.
It can be hard to go into a room full of strangers. Talking to others can be uncomfortable. Sharing toys isn’t always fun.
On the other hand, your child will come to enjoy being with other friends that are similar to them. They will build trust with their group leader. You will find them becoming better talkers with you, siblings and classmates.
To help your child make the most of their time in a social skills group try:
- Talk to the group leaders about skills covered during the session so you can talk about or practice them at home.
- Ask the group leader about new things that will be taught the next week to prepare your child.
- If your child is struggling come up with a plan with the group leader so your child feels safe and supported. For example, if your child starts getting overwhelmed when things get noisy instruct your child to put hands up to ears to signal to the group leader that it’s too noisy. The group leader can assist your child to find a quiet spot in the room for a break.
- Check-in with your kid about how they feel about the group, friends s/he is making or things they like and don’t like.
There are many benefits to going to a social skills group. Your kid can learn about different social cues and practice friendship-making skills. If your child is ready a social skills group will be a great experience!
Elizabeth Purpero is a licensed school counselor and licensed professional counselor-in-training. She has her master’s in counseling psychology. Elizabeth has worked as an autism therapist with children and teens. During her career, she has worked in intensive at-home therapy programs utilizing ABA and play therapy along with OT and speech therapy techniques. She has also worked as a mental health therapist helping clients address their mental health issues as it relates to autism. Elizabeth’s background working with the autism community has greatly helped her work with students in schools too. She has helped teachers implement effective strategies, create goals for IEP’s and make classrooms more sensory-friendly. Mark Twain once said, “Write what you know about,” and Elizabeth enjoys writing about autism-related topics and providing additional resources to help those impacted by autism.