SOCIAL SKILLS
Trust, Vulnerability, and Boundaries: Keys to Building Relationships
PARENTS ARE IN A GREAT POSITION TO ENCOURAGE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP BUILDING BY SHARING THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES WITH THEIR KIDS ON THE SPECTRUM.
By Dr. Sara R. COLOROSA, PhD
“What is mine is mine, what is yours is yours.” This is an easy saying to help our children and young adults on the spectrum in setting boundaries. As they begin to develop relationships, feelings can get hurt by other people’s actions, words, and inactions. How do we help them develop trusting relationships, start to be vulnerable, allow others in, and understand boundaries? This is where the work comes in!
First, relationships come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Typically, when we hear the word “relationships”, we think of love and romance. However, every person we come into contact with has a relationship with us.
Autism Parenting Magazine
Relationships are when two or more people relate or connect to, and with, one another—my definition not from Webster’s Dictionary. Relationships are about connecting, having things in common, wanting to spend time with the other person(s) due to a similar interest, hobby or need. We have many types of relationships: family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc.