Celebrating Friends Social Skills Enrichment

Unique is Interesting Everyone you know and everyone you will ever meet is special and different in some way! The world would be a boring place if people were all the same! It is our differences that make us all unique and interesting.

Appearance People look different from each other in all sorts of ways: Some people are tall and others are shorter Some have long hair and others have short hair You can probably think of many others!

Skills Our friends have different skills and talents! We all have things we enjoy and do very well.

Walk in Their Shoes One great way to try to understand people who seem different from you is to “walk in their shoes”

What does that mean? It means you think about what it would feel like to be them. You think about the things that are hard for them and imagine what it would feel like if those things were hard for you, too. You think about the things they do and don’t enjoy doing and imagine feeling the same way. You think about how people talk to them and threat them and imagine how it feels if people acted in those ways toward you.

Are you Curious? Sometimes it can be hard to remember how much people are alike, especially when you meet someone who doesn’t walk, talk or learn the same way you do. You might be curious. You might have questions and other times you might not.

Sight

Braille

Hearing: Cochlear Implant

Hearing: Hearing Aides

Sign Language

Hidden Differences Sometimes you can’t see differences. Maybe your friends do things you don’t understand… –Have trouble talking about what he/she is thinking –Laugh without having anything to laugh about (have giggle box turned over) –Play differently or do things differently (snail speed) –Like to spend time alone –Have trouble looking directly at you –Do or say/ask the same things over and over again

Autism Our friends with Autism are “wired” differently. This means that their brains work differently. Friends with Autism may have a hard time expressing how they are feeling or talking about things you like to talk about. Kids with Autism often have a hard time making friends or learning how to behave in different situations.

Dyslexia

Sign Language

Can’t judge a book by its cover!

Present Which present would you like?

A Trip to Disney World

Being A Good Friend Accept your friend’s differences. Protect your friend from things that bother him or her. Be patient – slow down - wait Wait - give him or her extra time to answer your question or complete an activity

Be A Good Friend Join your friend in activities that are interesting to him or her. Invite your friend to play with you and to join you in group activities. Teach your friend how to play by showing him or her what to do in an activity or group.

Celebrate Your Friends! Jennifer Saliba