Role-play
Tamara (2022), mentioned that role-play can be defined as an activity that engages individuals to create scenarios and characters in which they take on. In other words, children can learn appropriate dialogue and behaviours that would be applicable in a real life situation. Children also tackle circumstantial conflicts or challenges in pretend narratives instead of experiencing them first hand with strangers.
Educating them through this approach is optimal as it is a controlled and safe environment where the child is free to explore and make mistakes and through them, learn alternative solutions. Role-play has also shown to be a useful tool in helping children learn and understand the concept of empathy and the complex nature of emotions (Tamara, 2022). Role-playing with your child can really benefit them with their social understanding without having to feel overwhelmed!
Visual Support
The National Autistic Society (2020) suggested that words and dialogues may be difficult to teach and learn especially at a young age, hence using flash cards and social stories can be used as platforms for communication. Flash cards and social stories are useful visual tools that can aid a child in preparing for new environments and foreign situations. Communicating through imagery and associations between images and words create a cohesive narrative for your child (Raising Children Network (Australia) Limited, 2021). Especially if your child is non-verbal or has difficulty forming full sentences, using flash cards and social stories can help to introduce new topics of conversation and expand on them in ways they would best understand.
Social stories are particularly good for interactions and preventing an occurrence of a meltdown by reducing the element of unpredictability (Tobik, 2023). Tobik (2023) mentioned that social stories can significantly enhance how children with autism interact with others and assist them to learn how to deal with challenging situations. As transitions between an old routine or interaction to a new one can be stressful for them, using social stories to help inform your child in advance, better prepares them.
Using these tools to engage with your child can dramatically change the way they see the world and better equip them with the skills necessary for future independence. But it is important to remember that social skills especially, can be extremely tough for most children with autism, hence gradual progress as compared to instant progress is expected. Time, patience and consistent use of the tools are key aspects to a positive outcome!
Written by: Tara
References
Tobik, A. B. (2023). Social Stories for kids with autism - the ultimate guide. Autism Parenting Magazine. https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/social-stories-for-autistic-children/
Raising Children Network. (2022). Social stories. Raising Children Network.
Tamara. (2022). Why role play can increase your autistic child’s social skills. Autism & ADHD Connection. https://autismadhdconnection.com/why-role-play-can-increase-your-autistic-childs-social-skills-and-download-a-free-role-playing-guide/
The National Autistic Society (2020). Visual supports. The National Autistic Society.
https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/communication/communication-tols/visual-supports/
Picture Reference
Idina Risk from Pexels, [Preschool kids drawing in daycare] [Photograph]
Retrieved from: https://www.canva.com/
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