Social communication cues for young children with autism spectrum disorders and related conditions : how to give great greetings, pay cool compliments and have fun with friends

Initiating social interaction
Maintaining social interaction
Body positioning
Perspective-taking
Visual modality
Emotional regulation
Developing humor

"Children need effective communication skills as a foundation for successful participation in activities at home, school and in the community. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders are often unable to learn social skills from environmental cues and require direct teaching and lots of practice. This collection of social communication cues will enable parents and professionals to help children with social development difficulties navigate their social world and enjoy interacting with their peers. Each section begins with a simple social rule; the reason why the child may be having difficulty in this area is explained; and easy communication prompts and practice ideas are provided. The younger these skills are practiced, the happier and more self-confident the child. This program is ideal for early intervention as it can be used with children aged between two and seven years." - PUBLISHERS WEBSITE

Tarin has twenty years experience working with children, focussing particularly on those with autism spectrum disorders, and it shows. This book is full of examples and explanations on how to develop social skills, including joining in on a group already interacting with each other, developing an understanding of humour and learning to use eye contact.
There are seven chapters each concentrating on separate themes; within each theme there are lessons to be learnt, exercises to aid development of skills and helpful clear tips for parents and carers. I thought the “cues” or short prompts particularly helpful.
This is an easy read which has a broad scope and understanding of social skills development and relevant issues. Tarin offers parents, teachers and speech language therapists a positive, engaging method of helping children as young aged 2 and over develop their social skills.