It can occasionally be challenging for kids with neurodevelopmental disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or an intellectual disability, to make friends and find social opportunities. Parents can help by doing the following: (Source)
Fostering diverse communities
Social connections and friendships play a significant role in our lives. They give people a sense of inclusion in their communities and a sense of belonging.
Neurodevelopmental disabilities can affect how people communicate, learn, and act. Occasionally, these differences make it more difficult than usual to make friends and engage in social activities.
However, parents and other community members can contribute to the creation of more inclusive communities and increase the chances for people with neurodiverse abilities to form social relationships.
The following advice and methods will assist kids in acquiring the social and emotional competencies they need to make friends. Keep reading to find out how to help neurodiverse children build friendships and the benefits of practising social and emotional skills at home.
Making friends and navigating social situations require a variety of skills that you can practise with kids at home.
Making and keeping friends may be hindered by challenging behaviours. Through therapies and programming, it's critical to address problematic behaviours like impulsivity and aggression. The following fundamental skills should also be honed in order to lessen challenging behaviours:
- Greetings and asking questions. Make it a habit to practise greeting people all day long. Give your child an example of attentive listening by taking turns asking and responding to questions like, "How are you?"
- Calm physical movements. Children with neurodevelopmental disabilities may occasionally find it challenging to maintain body calm. Encourage your child to practise maintaining an arm's length distance between themselves and others in order to give their body enough space.
- Appropriate voice volume. Encourage your child to mimic your voice volume while listening. Practise turning the volume up and down as though your voice had a dial.
- Make eye contact. It can be challenging to look someone directly in the eyes, so encourage your child to practise looking at different parts of your face or their own eyes in the mirror instead.
- Observing and reacting to social signals Frequently. People communicate with more than just words. The various ways we express ourselves through body language and facial expressions are known as social signals. For kids who are neurodiverse, it can frequently be challenging to identify this. By asking what a person's body or face might be trying to say, you can help your child recognise common social signals
Making and keeping friends may be hindered by challenging behaviours. Through therapies and programming, it's critical to address problematic behaviours like impulsivity and aggression. The following fundamental skills should also be honed in order to lessen challenging behaviours:
- Patience. A crucial social skill is learning how to wait for your turn to play or for your turn to speak in a conversation. Set a timer to count down from 10 seconds to 1 minute to 5 minutes as you practise waiting.
- Flexibility. Use first-then statements to encourage your child to make concessions, such as "First we play the game your way, then my way." To demonstrate how play can develop, demonstrate adaptable play and redirect with new toys.
- Expressing intense feelings. It can occasionally be challenging to control intense emotions. Practise expressing these emotions clearly by seeking assistance, using an emotion board, or taking a break.
How to cast a wide social net
Supporting friendships and social connections for kids with neurodevelopmental disabilities involves encouraging social opportunities. Children with neurodiversity can find activities they enjoy in social settings. They can put the social and emotional skills they are learning into practise, and they may even run into other kids who are doing the same thing.
- Plan and coordinate play dates. Make a list of things to do with a friend, then choose from a hat which ones to do first and in what order to set the scene before a play date.
- Make a list of enjoyable activities and invite others to participate. Look around your neighbourhood for events or programmes that are free or inexpensive.
- Get in touch with other parents of children who have disabilities. Plan an activity for your kids, such as an ice cream date, a walk, or a game night for both adults and children. These interactions may lead to repeated, prearranged social interactions.
- Check out local organisations for children with disabilities, such as Special Olympics, or recreational programmes that promote inclusive environments, such as Unified Sports.
- A Lego club or pizza parties with teachers are two examples of organised recreational activities to consider. If necessary, make plans to bring a support person.
PIN IT!
