Key Highlights
- Turn-taking is a foundational social skill that helps children engage in play, communication, and daily routines.
- Many autistic children struggle with turn-taking due to communication, sensory, or social challenges.
- Structured activities, visual supports, and ABA strategies can make turn-taking easier to learn.
- Parents, teachers, and therapists can create opportunities for turn-taking at home and in school.
- Consistency, patience, and reinforcement are key to helping children with autism build this skill.
Turn-taking may seem like a simple social rule, but it plays a powerful role in helping children connect with others. From sharing toys to having a conversation, taking turns is a skill that supports friendships, classroom participation, and family interactions. For children with autism, however, learning to wait, share, and alternate in activities can be challenging.
This blog will explore why turn-taking is important for children with autism, the challenges they face, and strategies families and professionals can use to support growth in this area.
Why Turn-Taking Matters
Turn-taking is more than just “waiting for your turn.” It forms the foundation for communication, cooperation, and problem-solving.
Key Benefits of Turn-Taking:
- Language Development: Conversational turn-taking helps children practice listening and responding.
- Social Connection: Turn-taking builds trust, fairness, and reciprocity in relationships.
- Emotional Regulation: Waiting for a turn teaches patience and coping with frustration.
- Academic Success: Group learning activities often require sharing resources and taking turns.
Common Challenges with Turn-Taking in Autism
Children on the autism spectrum may struggle with turn-taking due to differences in communication, social awareness, and sensory needs.
| Challenge | How It Affects Turn-Taking |
|---|---|
| Difficulty with social cues | May not notice when it’s their turn or when to give others a turn. |
| Communication delays | Trouble expressing readiness or asking for a turn. |
| Preference for routines | May resist sharing or alternating in activities. |
| Impulsivity or anxiety | Difficulty waiting, leading to frustration or meltdowns. |
| Limited play skills | May prefer solitary play instead of cooperative play. |
Understanding these barriers is the first step to creating supportive strategies.
Strategies to Teach Turn-Taking
Teaching turn-taking requires patience, structure, and consistency. The following evidence-based approaches can help:
1. Start with Highly Motivating Activities
- Use favorite toys, games, or snacks to practice turn-taking.
- Motivation increases engagement and willingness to share.
2. Use Visual Supports
- Visual tools like timers, cue cards, or turn-taking boards show children when it’s their turn.
- Helps reduce anxiety about waiting.
3. Model the Behavior
- Parents, siblings, or therapists should demonstrate turn-taking clearly.
- Narrate actions: “It’s my turn. Now it’s your turn.”
4. Keep Turns Short
- Short turns reduce frustration and keep children engaged.
- Gradually increase the length of turns as the child improves.
5. Reinforce Positive Behavior
- Offer praise, tokens, or small rewards when the child waits or shares successfully.
- Reinforcement builds motivation to continue the skill.
6. Practice in Different Settings
- Generalize skills by practicing at home, in school, and in the community.
- Try playground games, board games, or classroom activities.
Activities to Encourage Turn-Taking
Practical activities make learning fun and natural.
- Board Games: Simple games like Candy Land or Connect Four teach alternating turns.
- Ball Games: Rolling or tossing a ball back and forth builds physical turn-taking.
- Story Time: Take turns reading pages or pointing to pictures.
- Cooking: Alternate steps when preparing a recipe, like stirring or adding ingredients.
- Art Projects: Share crayons, paint, or stickers, each person taking turns adding to the picture.
Role of ABA Therapy in Teaching Turn-Taking
ABA therapy (Applied Behavior Analysis) provides structured strategies to build social skills, including turn-taking.
- Task Analysis: Breaking turn-taking into smaller, teachable steps.
- Prompting: Using verbal or physical cues to guide children through the process.
- Reinforcement: Rewarding successful participation to strengthen the behavior.
- Generalization: Practicing across multiple environments and partners.
ABA therapists often collaborate with families to integrate these strategies into daily routines.
Supporting Turn-Taking at Home
Parents can encourage turn-taking naturally during everyday activities.
- Use first-then language: “First it’s my turn, then it’s your turn.”
- Offer structured play dates with peers who model good turn-taking.
- Create consistent routines where turn-taking is expected, like at mealtime or bedtime activities.
- Stay calm and patient, acknowledging that mistakes are part of learning.
Final Thoughts
Turn-taking is a foundational skill that opens the door to communication, friendships, and shared experiences. While it can be challenging for children with autism, structured strategies, patience, and positive reinforcement make it possible. Families, teachers, and therapists all play a role in creating opportunities to practice and succeed.
At True Progress Therapy, we specialize in using ABA therapy to support essential skills like turn-taking, helping children grow in confidence, communication, and social engagement. If you’re seeking guidance on teaching turn-taking, our team is here to provide personalized support. Contact us today!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is turn-taking difficult for children with autism?
Turn-taking can be hard because it requires social awareness, communication, and the ability to wait—all areas that may be challenging for autistic children.
2. At what age should I start teaching turn-taking?
You can introduce turn-taking as early as toddlerhood through simple activities like rolling a ball back and forth.
3. How long does it take to teach turn-taking?
Every child is different. Some may learn quickly with consistent practice, while others need more time and structured support.
4. Can turn-taking help improve my child’s communication skills?
Yes. Conversational turn-taking is a foundation for communication, helping children practice listening and responding.
5. How does ABA therapy support turn-taking?
ABA breaks down the skill into manageable steps, provides reinforcement, and ensures generalization across different settings.
Sources:
- https://educationonline.ku.edu/community/communication-difficulties-in-autism-spectrum-disorder
- https://www.autismspeaks.org/social-skills-and-autism
- https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/about-autism/preference-for-order-predictability-or-routine
- https://www.autismspeaks.org/tool-kit/atnair-p-visual-supports-and-autism
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5702301/
