You’re a parent who notices the subtle cues: the eyes drifting to the floor at hellos, the uncomfortable shuffling at parties, the anxious pacing before school. Yes, your neurodivergent child is struggling with social skills. We get it; this is no walk in the park. But you’re in the right place to find actionable steps to improve social skills. This blog offers specific instructions like role-playing exercises, tech resources, and goal-setting techniques tailored for your unique kiddo.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Observe Your Child in Social Settings
Firstly, you need a baseline. Spend some time observing your child in social situations. Look for patterns. For example, do they struggle with eye contact? Then they may not quite get the hang of the conversation flow.
Step 2: Set S.M.A.R.T Goals for Improving Social Skills
Certainly, vague goals like “get better at socializing” aren’t helpful. Make your aims S.M.A.R.T—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For instance, aim for your child to initiate a conversation at least twice in the next playdate.
Step 3: Use Role-Playing as a Teaching Tool
Role-playing is not just for Dungeons and Dragons. Use it to practice social scenarios with your child. Teach them the cues, the phrases, and, moreover, the body language that goes into effective social communication.
Read more: How to Help Your Child Make Friends
Step 4: Use Technology to Your Advantage
In the digital age, countless apps and tools are designed to aid in social skill development. Look for interactive stories, emotion-recognition games, and apps that teach kids how to improve social skills in a fun, engaging way.
Step 5: Improve Social Skills by Making Them Routine
Incorporate these activities into your kid’s daily or weekly routine. Repetition is key. Likewise, review the S.M.A.R.T. goals periodically and adjust as needed.
Goally | Visual Scheduler for Autism
Does your child struggle with getting ready in the morning independently? Goally’s routine app on the best tablet for kids breaks down large tasks into small, achievable steps for autistic kids. Create custom routines with your own videos & pictures for every step.
Step 6: Celebrate the Small Wins
After that first successful playdate or accomplished goal, remember to celebrate. Make a big deal out of it. Small wins build confidence, and confidence, in turn, improves social skills.
Step 7: Use Books and Stories to Improve Social Skills
For example, children’s books that tackle social scenarios can be incredibly effective. Read them together and discuss each situation’s social cues and appropriate responses.
"Goally helps! Our kid is more independent at home and at school" — Goally Mom Learn more →
Step 8: Keep the Conversation Going
Above all, communication with your child is crucial. Talk about their experiences, fears, and triumphs. Keeping an open line of communication will help you fine-tune your approach to teaching them how to improve social skills.
Goally | Learning Videos for Kids
Does your child need some extra guidance on building social skills? Goally’s skill building tablet for kids includes a TV app that has the most robust video library of skills training videos for kids. Ranging from content like “How to Brush Your Teeth” to “How to Make Friends at School,” we have dozens of interactive video lessons for kids with thinking and learning differences.
Dive into the Goal Mine channel, where Puffy the Penguin leads your child through behavior skills training videos. They’ll learn social, hygiene, and living skills that are key to their independence. For those moments when they need a break, the Chill Zone channel offers low stimulation video content with Paulie the Penguin at the beach, perfect for relaxation and self-regulation.
Try Goally as an app on any device you have at home for just $15. We also have a dedicated tablet (which ONLY has Goally on it) for $149.
Parenting a neurodivergent child comes with its set of challenges, no doubt. But watching them navigate social waters with increasing ease? That’s worth its weight in gold. This journey is not a sprint; it’s more like interval training. There will be sprints and rests, highs and lows. Remember that each step you take brings your child closer to social resilience. These small but mighty triumphs string together into a life rich with meaningful connections. You’re doing great, and with a bit of fine-tuning, your child will too. Now go, turn this newfound wisdom into action!
Goally
We help parents teach their kids life skills, like doing bedtime and morning independently. Backed by science, we incorporate evidence-based practices and expert-informed designs in all of our apps and content.
