Every parent wants their child to have an exciting social life surrounded by friends who care about them. For parents of children with autism, this isn’t easy to achieve as most autistic children aren’t interested in interacting with their peers.

Don’t fret! You’re not alone. It is possible for your child to have a social life—and these simple steps will help.

1.Role-play different scenarios. Create social situations where your child is the one who has to interact. Make the setting fun like a playground, a park, or a beach. Have them be the person who has to initiate the conversation and then reverse the roles. Next time have the child be the one who has to maintain the talk while the parent is the starter. Switching it up will give them multiple perspectives on how to act in different social settings.

2.Add a furry friend to the family. Pets not only provide emotional support, but they promote prosocial behaviors in children with autism. Research shows that autistic children with pets at home are more likely to “introduce themselves, ask questions, or respond to questions,” especially if they get to talk about their furry friend. Adding a puppy or a kitten to the family will help your child create their first bond of friendship, making future encounters seem less scary.

Full article here

https://nbc16.com/features/sinclair-cares/5-supportive-ways-to-boost-an-autistic-childs-social-life