Many kids are having problems with social skills--not just kids diagnosed with spectrum disorders.  We are seeing more and more of this.  Why? Professionals have shared lots of ideas such as increased "screen-time" (tv, computer, iPod, gaming systems), less family structure, being over-scheduled, less neighborhood playtime----to name a few.  It is happening.  What can we do?  Here's a link to a great blog by Dr. Michele Borba.  Take a look!     http://micheleborba.com/blog/teaching-kids-friendship-making-skills/

When working on nonverbal language (specifically facial expressions and emotions), Simon's Cat can be a great tool!  I suggest allowing your child to watch the entire video all the way through the first time then watch it again with added discussion.  You can stop the video to allow kids to process portions of it, ask him/her questions, or discuss specific parts of it. Kids enjoy it! 

• Avoid any and all comments or facial expressions that show disapproval of the child's speech.  
• Remove pressure for the child to perform perfectly.
• Do not ask the child to recite or perform in front of others.
• Allow the child to make mistakes and to see adults making mistakes.
• Do not praise and do not punish the child for his/her speech.
• Give the child plenty of time to talk--it may take him/her longer than others to get the message across.
• Accept all of the child's speech~~ fluent and non-fluent as normal speech.

Call a speech-language pathologist to talk about your concerns.  It is very important to keep communication positive and if the child is not aware of his/her difficulty--KEEP IT THAT WAY!  

For more information on stuttering, check ASHA's link.  http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/stuttering.htm

• Look at the child when he or she speaks.  Maintain good eye contact.
• Wait for the child to complete the message no matter how long it takes.  Never interrupt or finish words or sentences for the child.
• Make certain no one calls the child a "stutterer."
• Avoid telling the child to "Slow down," "Start over," "Take a deep breath," or "Say that over."

Call a speech-language pathologist to talk about your concerns.  It is very important to keep communication positive and if the child is not aware of his/her difficulty--KEEP IT THAT WAY!  

 Here's a great book that answers that question.  Great story and illustrations.  A wonderful opportunity to work on language with your child! And, look closely~ there are some hidden pictures of Santa, a rabbit, a dinosaur, and more! 

When you feel concerned for your child's development, it can be overwhelming.  When your child's physician or teacher have expressed concern for you child, it can be overwhelming.  Here's a great resource for those of you in Wisconsin.  Check it out!http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/cedd/pdfs/products/community/FYW_e.pdf

Why is taking turns so important?  

• A mother teaches her baby to take turns when making those first exciting coos.  The baby coos... Mother coos.
  
• A toddler loves to play ball.  Dad throws the ball then teaches his toddler to throw it back.
  
• Playing games, such as board games or card games, requires a child to take a turn then wait for others to complete their turns before taking another.

So why are these simple opportunities so important? They lay the groundwork for social interaction.  In doing these early play-based opportunities, parents are teaching their child how to take a turn then wait while someone else takes a turn.  During the waiting portion, the child is learning to be patient as well as observe and interpret what is going on in the situation.  This is the foundation for conversational turn taking. One person takes a speaking turn while the other listens and observes nonverbal cues, then the roles switch.  It is a valuable life skill...an investment in one's future successes!

When a person experiences a situation with a great amount of emotion, his or her ability to use language decreases. For example, how many times have you been angry when talking with someone and later thought--"I should have said..."  It may seem obvious at that point. However in the moment of anger, your ability to use your language skills decreased.   Or sometimes, a person may say the wrong thing and regret it later.  This can happen to anyone including children.  It is beneficial to allow time for emotions to balance and language to return (take a "time out" to think about things), before responding.

This is especially challenging for children who have difficulty with their social skills.  They may already have a limited skill set for interacting with others--then when facing extreme emotion, may really struggle or act out in a way that really negatively impacts the situation.  Take a "time out" --not as a form of punishment or disciplining but as a recovery time for balancing emotions and allowing language to return!