This webinar highlights the six core social-emotional skills that children, including those on the autism spectrum, develop as they grow. The speaker emphasizes the importance of meeting children where they are developmentally and supporting them based on their unique needs. The six capacities discussed include regulation (processing sensory input and managing emotions), social engagement (forming connections with others), initiation and response (starting and maintaining interactions), symbolic play (using toys or words creatively), problem-solving (thinking about and expressing ideas), and making logical connections (understanding and discussing different concepts).
The session also stresses the significance of sensory integration and collaboration with occupational and speech therapists to tailor interventions to a child’s strengths and challenges. Practical strategies such as slowing down interactions, recognizing nonverbal communication, and expanding play opportunities through sensory-based activities are recommended. The overarching message is to celebrate autistic children’s unique abilities while providing the right support to help them navigate social interactions and everyday life.
