Social Skills blog at The Children’s Place: practical tips and activities to help children build friendships, turn-taking, empathy, and confidence.

How to Improve an Autistic Child’s Daily Behavior

2025-12-16T04:41:47+00:00November 30th, 2025|

When children act out, they're trying to communicate something important. An autistic child who seems difficult isn't being stubborn - something in their day has pushed them past what they can handle. Maybe it's flickering lights at school, an unexpected schedule change, or too many people talking at once. Punishment doesn't fix these problems [...]

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BPD or Autism? Understanding the Similarities

2025-12-16T04:32:56+00:00November 26th, 2025|

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) create diagnostic puzzles that confuse even experienced clinicians. Emotional intensity? Present in both. Social struggles? Absolutely. Relationship difficulties? Check on both sides. Because the symptoms overlap substantially, distinguishing between these conditions becomes extremely challenging. But here's the critical issue - getting the diagnosis right determines [...]

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ASD Severity Levels Explained

2025-12-16T04:13:12+00:00November 18th, 2025|

Autism looks different in every child. Some speak in full sentences, hold down jobs, and live independently. Others never develop verbal language and need assistance with everything from getting dressed to staying safe. The gap between these experiences is enormous, which is exactly why the DSM-5 introduced three levels of autism back in 2013. [...]

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Asperger Syndrome (Asperger’s): Signs and Challenges

2025-12-09T03:33:18+00:00November 10th, 2025|

Asperger's syndrome still comes up a lot when people talk about autism, even though the medical terms have changed. What is Aspergers, exactly? The term used to describe kids who talked on time - or even early - but couldn't quite figure out the social rules everyone else seemed to get instinctively. Their vocabulary [...]

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Autism Masking: What It Is and Why It Happens

2025-12-09T03:24:45+00:00November 6th, 2025|

What is masking in autism? It's when autistic people hide their natural behaviors to fit in. Someone forces eye contact even though it's uncomfortable. They rehearse conversations for hours beforehand. Instead of flapping their hands, they tap their toes inside their shoes where no one can see. This constant act drains you completely. Every [...]

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What Does SEN Mean? A Simple Guide for Parents and Teachers

2025-11-18T00:16:56+00:00October 24th, 2025|

When you hear terms used in school, like IEP, EAL, or SEN, it's easy to feel lost. For parents, understanding the language schools use is the first step in supporting your child's language learning. For teachers, clear communication is essential. Let's break down the basics of this important topic. At its core, the SEN [...]

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What Are the Symptoms of Autism? Key Signs in Children

2025-11-17T23:50:21+00:00October 20th, 2025|

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a difference in the way a person's brain develops. It affects how they communicate, interact socially, and perceive the world around them. The core symptoms of autism generally fall into three areas: Social-communication differences. Restricted interests. Sensory sensitivity. For young children, parents and teachers might notice some early red flags. [...]

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At-Home Social Games to Support Children with Autism

2025-11-25T00:07:18+00:00October 16th, 2025|

Playing together is one of the most powerful ways for children to learn and connect. For children on the autism spectrum, however, typical play can sometimes feel hard or confusing. That's why using structured, enjoyable games at home is a fantastic strategy to nurture vital social and communication skills in a comfortable setting. These simple, [...]

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What Are Sensory Toys and How Can They Help Your Child?

2025-11-17T23:05:07+00:00October 8th, 2025|

In the world of child development, we often seek simple yet effective tools to support our children. One of the best and most fun tools available is the sensory toy. But what are sensory toys exactly? These are special objects made to stimulate a child's five main senses: Touch. Sight. Sound. Smell. Taste. They [...]

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Let Your Child Lead!

2025-11-25T00:14:36+00:00June 10th, 2019|

Often times, parents will ask how to engage their little one in activities that promote speech and language development. Parents may pull lots of toys and games off the shelves and ask their child to “say this” or “look at this.” This can be overwhelming for an early learner, and cause them confusion as [...]

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