Typical Peers as Social
Intervention Agents for
Preschoolers with Autism
Phil Strain, Ph.D.
Positive Early Learning Experiences Center
University of Colorado Denver
April 13, 2015
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Selecting Skills to Teach:
Specific Behaviors that Lead to Friendships
 Play Organizers
 Shares
 Assists
 Affection
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Selecting Skills to Teach:
Specific Behaviors that Lead to Friendships
 Lengthy Encounters
 Reciprocity
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Selecting Skills to Teach: Specific
Behaviors that Often Have a Major Effect
 Greetings (“Hi”, Wave, etc.)
 Smiling
 “Hot” Sayings (“Cool”, “Icky”, “Fab”)
April 13, 2015
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Peer Mediated Strategies
LEAP’s Social Skills Curriculum
1. Getting Your Friends Attention
2. Sharing - “Giving Toys”
3. Sharing - “Requesting Toys”
4. Play Organizer
• “You be the Mommy.”
5. Giving a Compliment
• “I like your painting.”
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Social Skill Curriculum –
Teaching the Skills
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Describe Skill
Demonstrate
the “Right Way”
Demonstrate
the “Wrong Way”
Child Practice with
Adult
Child Practice with
Child
Set up Reinforcement
System
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Social Skills Instruction
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Practicing Social Behaviors
 Barber Shop Video
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Creating Planned Social
Opportunities in the Classroom
 Look at things we do for children everyday



Have children invite peers to an activity
Have children pass out and collect materials
Serve snack “family style” (Snack Captains)
 Must start thinking in terms of creating social
opportunities

Plan for Social Skills opportunities during your
curriculum planning meetings.
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Tips for Promoting Social Interactions
 Arrange Materials and Classroom environment.
 Place Children in Positions where they can
interact.
 Be sure children look at each other and use
names.
 Nonverbal children can use physical contact.
 Remind children to try again if they don’t get a
response.
 Remind children to “Play with your friends”.
 Tell children exactly what to say using simple
sentences.
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Additional Fun Ideas for Building
Social Awareness
 Buddy Play
 Peer Statues
 Friendship Activities
 Peer Transitions
 Toys with High
“Social Value”
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Benefits for Typical Children
 More positive/accepting attitudes about
people with disabilities
 More social skills
 Equal if not greater, developmental progress
 Less disruptive/inappropriate classroom
behavior
 Viewed as more socially skillful by teachers
and parents
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