Autism Talk
Everyday Social Skills
A social skills curriculum designed to help preschool and early elementary students build meaningful social skills through games, hands-on activities, worksheets, and stories with realistic photos.
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Social Skills Are About Connection—Not Compliance
Social skills instruction should not be about teaching children to appear more typical. It should help children communicate, connect, advocate for themselves, build relationships, and participate meaningfully in everyday life.
Different Ways to Communicate
Children can participate using speech, signs, gestures, pictures, AAC, movement, or a combination of these.
Meaningful Practice
Children build skills through play, routines, shared activities, and real interactions—not worksheets alone.
Progress means greater independence, confidence, flexibility, self-advocacy, and authentic participation—not masking.
Progress That Matters
Designed With Autistic Learners in Mind
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Visual and Accessible
Realistic photographs, adapted books, and no-reading or no-writing activities make learning approachable for early learners.
Play-Based and Meaningful
Skills are practiced through games, pretend play, shared activities, and everyday classroom routines.
Flexible by Design
Teach all 15 units in sequence or choose the stand-alone skills your students need most.
Start With Level 1
Level 1 provides a developmental starting point for teaching foundational social skills to autistic preschool and early elementary learners. Follow all 15 units in sequence or choose the stand-alone skills your students need most.
Foundational
Communication
and Play
All About Me
Playing With Toys
Imitating Actions
Asking for What I Want
Asking for Help
Social Interaction Skills
Waiting
Taking Turns
Sharing
Greeting
Beginning Friendship Skills
Emotional Regulation and Flexible Thinking
Understanding Emotions
Coping Skills
Asking for a Break
Accepting “No” or “Later”
Flexible Thinking
What’s Included
in Every Unit
Each unit gives you multiple ways to introduce, practice, and monitor one meaningful social skill.
✓ Photo Social Story
✓ Adapted Book
✓ Hands-On Activities
✓ Visual Supports
✓ Worksheets and Mini Books
✓ Family Connection
✓ IEP Goals and Progress Monitoring
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Skills Grow Through
Everyday Practice
Children need more than an explanation—they need meaningful opportunities to practice a skill in different ways.
1
Introduce the Skill
Use photo stories, adapted books, and visuals to make the skill clear.
2
Practice It Together
Build confidence through games, movement, sensory activities, and pretend play.
3
Use It in Everyday Life
Support the skill during classroom routines, peer interactions, and activities at home.
Flexible for the Way You Teach
Teach all 15 units in sequence or choose the stand-alone skills that fit your learners, setting, and schedule.
✓
Self-Contained
Autism Classrooms
✓
Inclusive Preschool
and Elementary
Classrooms
✓
Social Skills and
Therapy Groups
✓
Home and
Community Practice
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Explore the Level 1 Units
Level 1 includes 15 stand-alone units arranged in a developmental sequence. Teach the complete curriculum in order or choose the skills that best meet your learners’ needs.
Foundational Communication and Play
Personal Information
Preferences
Playing with Toys
Imitating Actions
Asking for What I Want
Asking for Help
Social Interaction Skills
Waiting
Taking Turns
Sharing
Greeting
Beginning Friendship Skills
Emotional Regulation and Flexible Thinking
Understanding Emotions
Coping Skills
Asking for a Break
Flexible Thinking
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Level 1 curriculum designed for?
Level 1 is designed for preschool and early elementary learners who are developing foundational communication, play, social interaction, emotional-awareness, and regulation skills. It is especially appropriate for autistic learners and other children who benefit from explicit, visual social-skills instruction.
Do I need to teach the units in order?
No. The units are arranged in a developmental sequence, but each one stands alone. You can teach all 15 units in order or choose the skills that best match your learners’ current needs.
Can I use the units individually?
Yes. Each unit can be taught on its own, so you can select the skills most relevant to an individual learner, classroom, social-skills group, or therapy setting.
What is included in each unit?
Each unit includes visual teaching materials, hands-on activities, opportunities for everyday practice, and tools for monitoring progress. Materials vary slightly by skill so the instruction feels meaningful and natural.