Autism-Talk

Many autistic and neurodiverse children need explicit teaching and repeated practice to answer personal information questions. Hands-on activities involving movement, pretend play, visuals, sensory experiences, and games are often much more effective than drill-style questioning alone.

Many parents notice this pattern early. Their child clearly wants something — a snack, a toy, a turn on the tablet, or help opening a container — but instead of asking, they may cry, grab, scream, or become overwhelmed. It can feel confusing and frustrating. You might even wonder: Do they know how to ask? The truth is that requesting is a skill , and like many social-communication skills, it often needs to be taught explicitly for autistic children. Difficulties with communi

Visual supports may seem simple, but for many autistic children, they offer structure when emotions feel overwhelming. For many autistic children, visual supports help with emotional regulation in autism because they make emotions, body signals, and coping strategies more concrete, predictable, and easier to understand. When feelings are big, language often isn’t enough. Visuals give children something steady to return to. Grab your free taking turns social story here. In th

TL;DR Summary Sharing is one of the most critical early social skills but can be especially hard for autistic children. Begin small: less-preferred items, short sharing times, and with adults first. Use visuals like wait mats, token boards, and worksheets to make sharing concrete. Teach different ways to share (taking turns, dividing, using together, trading). Reinforce sharing with praise, bracelets, or sticker/token boards. Use social stories, adapted books, and worksheets