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(Inside: Teach your autistic child social skills with these 5 Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children! These tips make social skills practice fun!)

We are gearing up for our homeschool year, and picking out new curriculum and activities to try.

It’s basically my favorite time of year.

But planning to homeschool an autistic child is a little different than the average homeschool.

See, one of the best things about homeschooling your autistic child is that you can add in subjects that will help your child specifically, instead of just sticking to traditional lessons like math or reading.

One of the new subjects we’re starting with A-Man this year is social skills.

Autistic children tend to struggle with social skills, and A-Man is no exception. What we realized, though is that a lot of his social struggles stem from not having the language to navigate different social situations.

Thankfully, I figured out these 5 Simple Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children, plus I found one simple program that helps me teach new social skills each and every month!

5 Simple Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children

*This post is sponsored by Mrs. Wordsmith. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Please see my full disclosure for details.

5 Simple Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children
5 Simple Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children
5 Simple Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children
5 Simple Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children
5 Simple Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children
5 Simple Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children
5 Simple Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children
5 Simple Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children

5 Simple Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children

Now, if you’ve been a reader of Autistic Mama for long, you know I’m all about respecting my child’s autism, just like I respect my own.

While this is about teaching social skills, it’s about doing it in a respectful way!

We’re not about to force eye contact, or teach forced scripts, or push my child to the point where his anxiety ramps up.

We’re going to have fun and partner together to learn social skills that will help him have the language he needs to navigate a variety of social situations.

5 Simple Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children

I’ll also say, I’m a busy mom with five busy kids.

Pretty much everything we do in our homeschool helps with more than one subject.

Our math program might teach computer skills, or our reading program might also teach history.

So I went out and searched for a social skills program that would pull double duty, and I’m so excited that this one reinforces handwriting, letter recognition, reading, and more throughout the activities!

But I’m getting ahead of myself… Let’s dig into the 5 strategies for teaching social skills to autistic children!

5 Simple Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children

5 Simple Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children

Oh, and the best part is that you can use these strategies in just a few minutes each day.

No need to put hours and hours of time into it.

5 Simple Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children

#1 Set Realistic Goals and Expectations

Okay, I have this first because I’ve had so many parents how to help their child go from non-speaking to public speaker in a year.

Now, I’m not saying that’s impossible. I know some non-speaking public speakers!

But I also know that when we put pressure on autistic children, they tend to get anxious and resist change.

We want to set some realistic goals. And whenever possible, set those goals with your child.

5 Simple Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children

#2 Develop a Common Language

When you’re working with your child on social skills, it’s important to develop a common language with your child.

Now, what do I mean by that?

Well, autistic children struggle with communication as-is, and that struggle will only be worse if you’re using language they don’t understand.

So think about how your child communicates best. Maybe they prefer sign language. Maybe they like written words, or maybe they communicate best in pictures.

Meet your child where they’re at, and start teaching them specific social vocabulary in their communication style.

5 Simple Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children

#3 Practice Social Skills a Little Bit Every Day

You want your autistic child to enjoy their social skills practice, so don’t try to sit down and spend all day working.

Set aside a few minutes every day to practice social skills, and switch up your activities!

We love using the Mrs. Wordsmith Social Journey box because it switches up the activities each and every day.

One day they’re coloring, another day they’re working on letter recognition, and another day they’re playing a card game.

5 Simple Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children

#4 Stay Consistent

This might be the most important strategy in the entire post…

If you want to teach social skills to autistic children, you need to stay consistent.

When you make this a part of your daily schedule, you’ll be able to cover a ton of ground if you stick with it month after month.

Thankfully, you don’t have to keep coming up with new social language skills to practice with your child because Mrs. Wordsmith does that for you!

With their easy monthly subscription service, you will get new social vocabulary activities to do with your autistic child month after month!

5 Simple Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children

#5 Make Social Skills Practice Fun

Here’s the thing. I’m not about forcing autistic children to do a bunch of mindless tasks and activities they hate just because they’re autistic.

That’s why it’s absolutely vital to make social skill practice FUN.

Use a silly story to teach a concept. Play a game to practice their new social vocabulary. Color and draw if that’s what they love.

You want your autistic children to have fun while you teach them social skills!

5 Simple Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children

Mrs. Wordsmith Social Journey

We love Mrs. Wordsmith Social Journey, a monthly subscription box that delivers brand new social vocabulary activities right to your door!

A-Man LOVED the hilarious storybook that came in his box and said the drawings were really funny.

We also had a lot of fun with the bright and colorful word cards. They’re organized by the different stages of social development, so we were able to meet A-Man where he is at and help him grow his skills naturally.

Plus there’s an activity book filled with different activities, and I loved that it reinforced other skills we’ve been teaching in our homeschool.

Click here and use the code: AusticMama10 to get 10% off your Mrs. Wordsmith Subscription!

5 Simple Strategies to Teach Social Skills to Autistic Children