On June 8^th, best friends around the nation will come together to celebrate a very special day: Best Friends Day. Unfortunately, for many autistic children, celebrating this occasion can be challenging. It can be difficult to foster and encourage friendships between autistic and non-autistic children. However, there are some things that you can do to plant the seeds of a beautiful friendship that can last a lifetime. Here are some ways that you can celebrate Best Friends Day with your child by giving him or her a chance at making a friend.

First off, friendship starts when you’re a parent. You are your child’s role model, so to help your child develop the skills needed to form friendships you have to practice them yourself. Talk to your child about his or her interests, listen, share, and play. Acquaint your child with the behaviors found in a healthy friendship.

Next, introduce your child to other children and work with support staff to have your child socialize in a classroom or even in a group of other autistic children. Expose your child to different social atmospheres while being conscious of your child’s sensitivity to certain stimulation. Be patient and be understanding. It takes time.

Finally, talk to other parents and create opportunities for your child to connect. Take fieldtrips with the classroom. Work in the community to develop a playgroup for developmentally challenged children. Work with others to develop a network that your child can tap into to form friendships.