Photo by RDNE Stock project: https://www.pexels.com/photo/special-child-in-yellow-and-gray-hoodie-long-sleeve-shirt-petting-a-dog-8298452/

 

First, let us begin this post with the understanding that autism can refer to quite a wide spectrum of neurodiverse characteristics and capabilities. You may have heard of low-functioning and high-functioning autism, which can be reflected in significantly different behavioral patterns and personalities.

 

As such, any care plan or focus on supporting their development will need to account for this. That’s why services like Autism360 are so important to many parents trying to do the best for their child. However, autism or not, all parents want their children to feel loved, accepted socially, and able to connect to others. How that happens can depend on the circumstances and the people around you, which means some of it is out of your hands.

 

What can be done, however, is trying to create situations in which your child is able to feel connected or at least seen by others. In this post, we’ll discuss a few measures to make that more likely:

Head To Autism Support & Socializing Groups

A good place to start is finding a local autism support group or a social skills group, as such gatherings are designed to be safe spaces where children can be themselves without feeling judged, and they get to interact with other kids who have similar life experiences, and also parents who understand. 

This can make the worry about being seen as “different” completely evaporate, as it might in other places, and as such places may be designed around activities or mutual games with their condition in mind, it could reinforce positive behaviors and hold their attention for longer. Look for local autism support groups to see what’s available in your area.

Practice Conversations & Good Social Grace Within The Family

The best place for your child to feel safe practicing social skills is right at home with the family. We’d suggest making a game out of it, like taking turns talking at dinner or practicing making eye contact when someone is speaking. 

This is a good way to help them understand social cues in a low-pressure environment, which is extremely important for a child, let alone those with autism. When they feel confident with their family, they can then carry that confidence into other social situations or at least have the baseline skills to show when possible. It helps if you give them gentle reminders and positive feedback as they practice, which will help them feel supported and ready to take on the world.

Bring Them Along To Modest Outings

Of course, autistic children should be able to access more places than specific support groups or home, should they be functional enough to. That could involve small, less-pressured social settings, not a huge birthday party or a crowded shopping centre. Examples could include something like a quiet park, the local library, or a quick visit to a close friend's house. Some cinemas even have autism-friendly screenings where alternative behavior isn’t looked down on.

With that, the outcome is to give them a chance to be around other people without feeling overstimulated, and it’s a means to get them used to new environments. A few short, positive experiences can help them feel more comfortable in going out the house, which can do wonders for their development.

Consider Pet Friends

It’s fair to say that despite all the above advice, progress can come slowly. After all, you can’t force anyone to be friends, neurodiversity or not, as a melding of personalities and a blossoming of trust is central to it all. This is why many parents of children with autism can look to pets and friendly animals to help their children come out of their shell, at least initially.

Some dogs are sponsored and trained by autism charities to be more placid around children with special needs, to be understanding and friendly, and to accept their touch. That’s not to imply autistic children are any different or that they treat animals poorly, only that as most parents would accept, there’s an element of unpredictability there on both sides. Having a furry friend they’re excited to see and be around, if only for a few sessions a week, can help them feel more open and interactive, not solely focused on their own hobbies or tasks. There’s a great deal of joy in having an animal friend, and of course, autistic children deserve that kind of unconditional love from this angle, too.

With this advice, we hope you can more easily help your autistic child make friends.