Publisher's Synopsis
Many children age seven and under who struggle with social skills -- especially those with autism, ADHD, anxiety, language delays, or behaviour issues -- find themselves perpetually on the sidelines, in timeout, or ignored by their peers in school and on the playground. It is incredibly painful and worrisome for their parents to witness, but fortunately, they are not powerless to help their kids improve their social IQ. This book helps parents to understand the roots of these problems, which take hold at a very young age, and give their kids the foundational skills necessary to form connections and friendships with other children. The book explains how parents can teach their children social observing skills at an early stage in their development and identify: Where their child is on the social skills ladder. How to set goals to fill in those gaps. How and when to support their child during play. How to identify play behaviours that hinder or help. How to model good social skills and cues. Written by a speech-language pathologist and researcher with expertise in socially at risk kids, the book includes profiles of children who illustrate a wide variety of characteristics and behaviours that lead to social isolation, along with effective, well-designed activities that encourage joint attention, eye contact, and social interaction. Beyond its appeal to parents, this book will also garner interest from counsellors and teachers as well.
