Showing Affection
Showing affection is a natural way humans connect to each other. When teaching this as a skill, I suggest getting a sense of where your child is now. What are some ways he or she shows affection?
Then, you can meet your child where they are and introduce subtle shifts that might make their social skills more polished.
Mikey as an Example
Mikey gets very close to people with a big smile on his face when he wants to show affection. We are working with him to acknowledge his desire for connection and also show him how to ask for attention without making others uncomfortable. We’re helping him to ask for attention verbally or tap someone on the shoulder if he wants their attention. He can also use phrases like, “I feel happy” to let people know that he is glad to be around them.
Mr. Mikes, smiles and high fives at a typical distance are also greatly appreciated!!
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About the Author
Erica Mauro is a mom to two teenage boys, Will who is neurotypical and Michael with Autism and cognitive delays. She holds a BA in Psychology from Colgate University and a Masters of Psychology in Education from Columbia Teacher’s College. Before staying home with her children, she worked as an elementary school teacher. For five years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs. In partnership with her husband Dave, she aspires to parent by using daily life as an opportunity for therapeutic intervention, seizing on real experiences as opportunities to build skills and strategies for Michael in a joyful, loving home environment. On the tougher early days, she just tried to get everyone safely to bedtime and start fresh in the morning. *wink* 
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