Building friendships is an important part of childhood, but for many children with autism, social relationships can feel confusing, unpredictable, or overwhelming. Social situations often require skills, such as communication, shared play, flexibility, and emotional understanding, that may not come naturally. With the right support, however, children with autism can learn how to connect with peers, build confidence in social interactions, and develop meaningful friendships.
At Solstice Behavioral Health & Consulting, we help children across New Haven County, including Milford, Shelton, Trumbull, Stratford, Fairfield, Easton, Monroe, Derby, Ansonia, Seymour, Weston, Westport, and Wilton, develop the social skills they need to build relationships. Through ABA therapy, social skills group therapy, parent training, and school consultation, our Master’s and Doctoral-level clinicians guide families in creating opportunities for positive peer interactions at home, school, and in the community.
This blog offers practical, evidence-based tips to help your child with autism build friendships while supporting their strengths, learning style, and communication needs.
Why Children With Autism May Struggle with Friendships
Children with autism often experience unique challenges that can make forming friendships more difficult. These may include:
- Differences in communication or language
- Difficulty interpreting social cues
- Challenges with back-and-forth conversation
- Preference for routines or solitary play
- Difficulty initiating interactions
- Limited play skills or trouble understanding social rules
These challenges don’t mean that a child doesn’t want friends, they simply may need help building the skills that support peer connections. Through ABA therapy, children can learn how to approach peers, respond during play, share, take turns, and communicate their needs more effectively.
1. Teach and Model Social Skills at Home
Social skills begin with everyday interactions. Teaching these skills in a calm, predictable home environment helps children feel more prepared for real-world situations. Parents can model:
- Greeting others (“Hi,” “Hello,” “How are you?”)
- Showing interest (“What are you playing?”)
- Making requests (“Can I play with you?”)
- Sharing and turn-taking
- Asking questions
- Using kind or polite language
Role-playing is a powerful ABA-based tool that helps children practice common social situations. Pretend to be a peer at school or on the playground, and guide your child in responding or initiating interaction.
At Solstice, our parent training programs teach caregivers how to practice these skills at home using evidence-based techniques.
2. Use Social Stories and Visual Supports
Many children with autism benefit from social stories, visual schedules, or step-by-step guides that explain what happens during social interactions. These tools help children understand what to expect.
For example, a social story may describe:
- How to invite someone to play
- What to do if a peer says “no”
- How to share toys
- What it means to take turns
- How to join a group activity
Visual supports can also guide appropriate behavior and help children feel more confident in new situations.
3. Practice Play Skills Through Structured Activities
Play is the foundation of childhood friendships. If a child struggles with play skills, building friendships can be even harder. Through ABA therapy and Natural Environment Teaching (NET), children practice:
- Shared play
- Cooperative play
- Imaginative or pretend play
- Following game rules
- Asking for help
- Problem-solving with peers
Families can support this by choosing structured play activities at home such as puzzles, board games, or building sets. These activities naturally teach turn-taking, communication, and teamwork.
4. Join Social Skills Groups
Children with autism often benefit from practicing social skills with structured guidance from professionals. At Solstice, our Social Skills Group Therapy provides:
- Small group settings for safe, supported interaction
- Practice with conversation skills
- Guided play and collaborative activities
- Feedback from clinicians to strengthen communication
- Opportunities for real peer connection
These groups help children learn and generalize skills that they may struggle to build naturally in unstructured environments.
5. Start With One Friend at a Time
Large groups can be overwhelming for children with autism. Start by arranging one-on-one playdates or short meetings with a familiar child. Keep these interactions structured and brief at first to build success.
Tips for successful playdates include:
- Choosing quiet and predictable environments
- Preparing your child beforehand using visuals or social stories
- Planning simple activities (playdough, puzzles, bubbles, art, outdoor games)
- Providing gentle guidance when needed
- Ending the interaction on a positive note
As your child’s confidence grows, interactions can become longer and more flexible.
6. Collaborate With Your Child’s School
Teachers, paraprofessionals, and school specialists play a major role in supporting social success. Through Solstice’s School Consultation services, our team collaborates with schools to:
- Support IEP social goals
- Provide behavior intervention plans
- Conduct observations
- Offer professional development for staff
- Coach teachers on ABA-based strategies
- Identify peer buddies or structured social opportunities
This collaboration ensures that the strategies learned in therapy are reinforced throughout the school day.
7. Celebrate Small Milestones
Friendships build slowly, especially for children with autism. Celebrate every step, whether your child says hello, plays alongside a peer, asks a question, or shares a toy. Positive reinforcement helps children feel proud of their progress and encourages continued growth.
Through ABA therapy, children learn that social interactions can be enjoyable, predictable, and rewarding.
How Solstice Behavioral Health & Consulting Supports Social Development
Solstice provides a wide range of therapies that support social skill development for children with autism, including:
- Natural Environment Teaching
- Functional Communication Training (FCT)
- Speech and language support collaboration
- Solstice Academy for educational and social growth
Our approach is individualized, evidence-based, and designed to empower children to connect, communicate, and build meaningful relationships.
Conclusion
Helping a child with autism make friends takes time, patience, and the right strategies. With structured practice, visual supports, guided play, and ongoing collaboration, children can learn to build meaningful peer relationships.
At Solstice Behavioral Health & Consulting, located in Shelton, CT, we proudly serve families throughout New Haven County, including Milford, Shelton, Trumbull, Stratford, Fairfield, Easton, Monroe, Derby, Ansonia, Seymour, Weston, Westport, and Wilton. Our team specializes in ABA therapy, social skills training, and parent coaching to help children thrive socially at home, school, and in the community.
To learn more about our programs or schedule an appointment, call (203) 900-4720 today.