Role Play Practice

Your child doesn't know how to respond in social situations

Steps

  1. Identify a specific social challenge (sharing, waiting turns, greeting)
  2. Act out the scenario with toys or together
  3. Practice the 'right' response in a fun, low-pressure way
  4. Use phrases like 'What could you say when...'
  5. Celebrate effort, not perfection

What you need

Just your time and imagination (toys optional)

Why it works

Children with Autism and ADHD often learn best through doing, not telling. Role play creates a safe, low-stakes environment to practise responses that would be overwhelming in real social situations. It builds muscle memory for social interactions so they have something to fall back on.

Age guidance

Works well for ages 4-10. Younger children respond well to using toys as stand-ins. Older children may prefer to discuss scenarios verbally rather than act them out.

Real-world example

One family spent 10 minutes every Sunday practising 'what could you say when someone takes your toy?' using stuffed animals. It felt silly at first, but when the situation happened at school the following week, their child used the exact phrase they'd practised. The teacher was astonished.

Troubleshooting

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