When I am coaching, I often get asked what social skills are important to teach children on the autism spectrum. I put together this list of social skills to teach kids with autism so that you would know exactly what to work on with your child or students.
Why teach social skills to individuals with autism?
Why is it important to teach social skills to autistic learners in the first place?
Building a social skills repertoire will help your child in many ways by
- Fostering friendships
- Encouraging kindness and empathy
- Increasing your child’s positive social experiences
- Reward social interactions
List of Social Skills for Kids with Autism (the ultimate Social Skills List)
This list is by no means definitive but a great place to start. 62 social skills you can begin teaching in your home or classroom today.
- Following directions
- Complimenting others
- Being a supportive friend
- Asking permission
- Being polite
- Speaking in an appropriate tone
- Speaking at an appropriate volume
- Waiting to do something
- Accepting that something is not available
- Realizing that my actions have consequences
- Respecting others’ things
- Respecting others’ personal space
- Listening when other speak
- Taking turns
- Waiting for everyone to be served food before eating at the table
- Respecting other people’s feelings
- Recognizing my own feelings
- Accepting “no” as an answer to a request
- Identifying other people’s emotions
- Working as a team
- Asking for help when necessary
- Accepting others’ differences
- Forgive others
- Helping someone else
- Making eye contact
- Responding to my name
- Following rules
- Taking turns when speaking in a conversation
- Communicating in a clear way
- Actively participating in a conversation
- Following instructions/directions
- Staying with a group outside
- Respectfully disagreeing
- Accepting feedback from others
- Sharing toys
- Celebrating my successes as well as others’ successes
- Giving gifts
- Accepting gifts with gratitude
- Focusing on the task at hand
- Resisting peer pressure
- Flexibility – accepting a change of plans
- Calling other by their names
- Sharing ideas
- Speaking on the phone
- Giving help
- Waiting for change
- Greeting a shopkeeper
- Saying hello
- Being kind to animals
- Staying seated with the group
- Asking another person about his/her day
- Waiting appropriately at the store
- Mealtime etiquette
- Reading quietly at the library
- Using a seatbelt
- Politely declining the offer of food from others
- Eating at someone else’s home
- Waiting my turn on the playground
- Walking next to an adult on the sidewalk/street
- Dressing appropriately when out with others
- Sitting quietly on the plane
- Eating appropriately in a restaurant
Tools that can help teach social skills to autistic learners
These are by best tools to help you teach social skills to your little learners on the spectrum.
- Autism Activity Workbooks – do the activities in these workbooks with one child or in a group. The activities build a variety of new skills and can be done by the child individually or children can work in teams.
- Autism Social Stories – use these printable social stories to teach about a variety of social situations.
- Autism Sensory Boxes – autism sensory boxes are a fabulous tool to help your child calm down and focus. Make mini versions and they become the perfect tool to bring with you on the go.
- Sensory Break Cards – while working on social skills, don’t forget that your child may have specific sensory needs – they are typically part of an autism diagnosis after all. Sensory break cards help make time for sensory breaks throughout the day which will keep your child happier, calmer and more focused.
- Autism Chew Toys – autism chew toys can do wonders for helping your child cope in social situations while also getting the necessary oral sensory feedback he/she needs.
- Sensory Toys – these sensory toys can also be valuable in social situations, as well as at home.
- DIY Fidgets – fidgets help your child stay focused and relaxed in social situations, making it easier for him/her to learn the social skills on this list.
- Hobbies for an Autistic Child – engaging in hobbies can help build social skills too.
Get your free printable list of social skills to teach
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More Autism Resources
- The Successful Interaction with a Child with Autism Course – learn to better understand your autistic child or students with this complete course.
- Autism Activities Workbook Bundle – build communication skills, fine motor skills, sensory play skills and daily living skills, while helping your child or students to successfully manage any difficult behaviors, with these fun, educational, printable activities.
- Autism Activities Vault – 365 days of learning fun! Autism Adapted Books Bundle – build communication skills with my collection of printable adapted books for autistic learners. Autism Social Stories Bundle – a collection of printable social stories to help your little learners work on their social skills.
- Sensory Communication Workbook – Build communication skills with simple sensory activities.
- How to Make a Communication Binder Guide & Workbook – Learn how to create a Communication Binder for your child or student with autism using real photos. Follow my expert guide to learn how to use it to increase communication skills.
- Autism Adapted Books Bundle – a collection of 10 adapted books that will help you build communication skills while teaching more than 120 vocabulary words.
- Zoo Animals Play Dough Mats Bundle – use these printable play dough mat to work on the names of the animals, build language skills, and increase fine motor strength and precision in a fun, sensory way!
List of Social Skills to Teach Children with Autism
Print out this list of social skills to teach children with autism to use at home or in your classroom.
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First published December 19, 2019. Last updated June 9, 2021 with more information, additional tips, and better readability.
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