Improving the social communication of autistic children is one of the most important concerns of parents and therapists; Many of these children have challenges in making eye contact, understanding other people's feelings and expressing their wishes. Strengthening their social skills not only increases self-confidence, but also paves the way for active participation in society. Therefore, with appropriate educational methods, interactive games and continuous support of the family, it is possible to help these children's communication development and improve their quality of life significantly.

Why do autistic children have difficulty in establishing social communication?

Children with autism have difficulty understanding and responding to social cues, they have challenges communicating verbally and non-verbally with others, and they often do not know how to properly express their feelings or desires. This issue makes social relations boring and sometimes confusing for them. Among the most important reasons are:

difference in understanding emotions and body language

children with autism are often weak in recognizing facial expressions, tone of voice or body movements of others, they do not notice happiness, sadness or anger in other people's faces and this makes the appropriate response They don't give into social situations, as a result their interactions remain superficial and short.

problems in verbal communication

These children sometimes face difficulty in speaking and understanding the language, some speak late or have limited vocabulary. Even if they speak, the tone and tone of their speech is dry and repetitive, so this issue makes it difficult for others to communicate with them.

over-focus on specific interests

Many autistic children are very interested in certain topics and talk about it for hours, this extreme concentration makes them unable to engage in diverse conversations or listen to others. As a result, their social interactions become limited and one-sided.

anxiety in social situations

difference in brain function and information processing

The brain of autistic children processes social information in a different way, the parts of the brain that are responsible for understanding emotions and human relationships do not have coordinated activity. For this reason, they have problems communicating effectively with others and their interactions do not have the necessary depth and continuity.

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Strengthening communication skills of autistic children

Autistic children need continuous training and practice in order to communicate effectively with others. In fact, strengthening their communication skills not only increases self-confidence, but also helps to improve family relationships, friendships and social presence. Of course, note that this process requires patience, planning and cooperation between parents, therapists and teachers.

using speech therapy

Speech therapy in autistic children is one of the best ways to teach communication skills, the therapist teaches the child how to express his feelings, needs and thoughts verbally or with the help of gestures with targeted exercises. These exercises include teaching useful words, controlling the tone of voice and increasing power in everyday conversations.

occupational therapy and interactive games

Occupational therapy in autistic children strengthens the child's communication skill by using group games, eye interaction and movement coordination. Games such as turn taking, pantomime or imitation games teach the child how to cooperate with others, pay attention to feelings and respond in time.

Education through images and symbols

Some autistic children are weak in verbal communication and learn better through pictures, the use of picture cards, educational software and alternative communication systems such as PECS help the child to express his needs in an understandable way and communicate more effectively with others.

The role of the family in strengthening communication

Parents play an essential role in the development of children's social skills; Talking softly, encouraging eye contact, responding to the baby's movements, and creating interactive situations at home are some of the ways that strengthen communication. The family provides the basis for the child's development with continuous emotional support.

presence in controlled social environments

Autistic children become anxious in crowded environments, but gradually being in small social spaces such as study groups or group games can help them gain more confidence to interact. These experiences lead to the gradual growth of communication skills and better adaptation in society.

The role of the parents in improving the social interactions of the child with autism

Parents play an essential role in improving the social interactions of a child with autism, because they are the first source of learning communication and feeling safe for him. Creating a calm, predictable and supportive environment helps the child to communicate with others without anxiety. When parents carefully respond to the child's behaviors and speech, he learns that interaction is a way to understand and connect with others.

suitable games for strengthening social communication of autistic children

Through the game, the child learns how to communicate, take turns, cooperate, and express emotions in a happy and pressure-free atmosphere, so choosing simple and targeted games makes the child gain a better understanding of social relationships and strengthen his visual and verbal communication.

• A turn-taking game such as playing ball or debarna teaches the child to wait for his turn and respect group interaction.
• Imitative play such as pantomime or repetition of movements helps the child to focus more and understand the behavior of others better.
• Role-playing games such as salesman and customer make the child practice conversation and learn social roles.
• Look and say game encourages the child to understand emotions and express them by using pictures or facial expressions.
• Simple group games such as play or tug-of-war strengthen the spirit of cooperation in the child and accustom him to teamwork.
• Playing with a mirror helps the child make eye contact, control his movements and recognize his facial emotions.
• Building a puzzle or Lego with the cooperation of others increases concentration, coordination and non-verbal communication in a child.
• Musical games such as clapping to the rhythm of the song raise joint attention and strengthen the feeling of happiness and interaction in the child.

Finally…

Improving social communication of autistic children requires continuous effort, patience and cooperation between family, therapists and educational environment. Every autistic child takes his own path of communication development, but with the right training, purposeful play and emotional support, significant progress can be made in his interactions. Parents who accompany their child with love and awareness in this path will be the foundation for the development of social skills and increase the quality of his life.