Turn-taking and sharing are essential social skills that can greatly enhance a child’s ability to interact and build relationships with others. For children with autism, these skills may not come as naturally as they do for neurotypical children, but with the right strategies, they can be developed over time. In this blog, we’ll explore various techniques and activities that can support children with autism in learning how to take turns and share.
Use Visual Supports and Schedules
Children with autism often benefit from visual cues that provide clarity and structure. A visual schedule or a “First/Then” board can help outline when it’s a child’s turn and when it’s time to share. For example, you might show a picture of a toy, followed by a picture of another activity to demonstrate that after their turn, they will get to do something they enjoy. This helps children with autism understand what is expected of them and what will happen next, making it easier to practice turn-taking in a predictable way.
Model Turn-Taking and Sharing
Children with autism may not always know how to share or take turns because they haven’t had the opportunity to observe these behaviors. Modeling is a powerful teaching strategy. You can demonstrate how to take turns by engaging in a back-and-forth activity such as passing a ball, playing a board game, or taking turns with a toy. While doing this, explain what you’re doing: “It’s your turn to roll the dice, and then it will be my turn.” Seeing turn-taking in action helps children understand the concept and its social value.
Use Structured Playtime Activities
Structured play activities can encourage turn-taking in a more controlled environment, which is especially helpful for children with autism who may struggle with the unpredictability of free play. Games like “Simon Says,” “Hot Potato,” or “Turn-Taking Dice” can be adapted for children with autism. These activities provide clear expectations, rules, and opportunities for positive reinforcement when the child takes their turn. They can also make turn-taking feel more like a fun and rewarding game rather than a forced task.
Praise and Reinforce Positive Behaviors
Positive reinforcement is crucial for encouraging the behaviors you want to see. When a child takes their turn or shares with a peer, immediately provide praise such as, “Great job sharing your toy!” or “You did an excellent job waiting for your turn!” Reinforcement should be specific to the behavior, as this helps children understand what they are being praised for. In some cases, small rewards or tokens can be used to further motivate the child and help them associate turn-taking and sharing with positive outcomes.
Use Social Stories
Social stories are a useful tool for children with autism to understand appropriate behaviors and social expectations. These stories are simple narratives that explain a social situation, such as taking turns or sharing, in a way that is easy to understand. A social story for turn-taking might go something like, “When I play with my friend, I wait my turn. Then, my friend waits their turn. We both feel happy when we share.” By reading and discussing these stories, children gain insight into how turn-taking and sharing work in real-life situations.
Teach Empathy through Role-Playing
Empathy is an important component of sharing and turn-taking. Role-playing games can help children with autism practice understanding other people’s perspectives. You can set up scenarios where the child plays the role of someone waiting for a turn or sharing an object. For example, you could pretend to be upset because they didn’t share, and then model how to apologize and share. Role-playing can be an effective way to build social understanding and emotional awareness, leading to better turn-taking and sharing in real-life situations.
Use Sensory Breaks to Reduce Overwhelm
Sometimes, children with autism may struggle with turn-taking or sharing because they feel overstimulated or overwhelmed. Sensory overload can make it hard for a child to focus on social interactions or wait for their turn. Offering sensory breaks before or during activities can help the child self-regulate and return to the task with a calm mind. These breaks can involve deep pressure activities, quiet spaces, or using fidget toys to help the child focus better during structured play.
Conclusion
Encouraging turn-taking and sharing in children with autism is a gradual process that requires patience, consistency, and the right strategies. By using visual supports, modeling behaviors, incorporating structured activities, and reinforcing positive actions, children with autism can improve their social skills and learn to engage more successfully with others. As caregivers, teachers, and ABA therapists, providing a supportive, predictable environment helps these children feel more confident in their social interactions and sets the foundation for stronger relationships in the future.