How Kids with Special Needs can Build Healthy Friendships

It can be difficult for kids with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or other special needs to make friends as quickly and easily as their peers. Check out the following tips for making friends as a special needs kid and what families can do to encourage them.

Making friends on the playground or at school can be a daunting task for any child, and especially for a child with special needs. Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often have difficulty initiating social interaction with their peers and may be unable to recognize social cues such as body language, tone, and emotion. Although these children may face many challenges when making new acquaintances and friends, parents should be supportive and encourage their child to explore the playground.

Susan Cortilet, LMHC, who counsels individuals with ASD and other related conditions through her Nanuet-based practice Discovering Your World, has more than 20 years of experience as a mental health professional. Here, Cortilet shares her advice on how parents can encourage children with ASD and other special needs to engage in social interactions and establish healthy friendships.

Do as other parents do.

"Plugging children into social situations is a critical part of everyday activity," Cortilet says. "[Organizing] play dates, going to the playground, pairing children up with a friend, and inviting children to your home -- it is the same formula as with other [typical] children." The worst-case scenario is for parents to ignore this crucial developmental period in their child's life, which could lead the child to become socially isolated as he or she gets older.

Be observant.

Parents should observe their child's interactions with peers and assess whether they are healthy. Cortilet defines a healthy friendship as being "respectful, caring, and cooperative"; negative friendships that are demeaning, unequal, or unkind should be addressed. Look for these qualities when your child is interacting with others. Also, ask for honest feedback from your child's teacher and school officials on your child's daily activities and experiences, especially in regard to behavioral changes such as social withdrawal.