What a social-skills session looks like
A social-skills session here is one skill in a real game — a greeting, a turn, a way to ask to join — with a prompt we then fade. Not a lecture about being nice.
Written by the Inclusive Developmental and Therapy Center therapy team · medically reviewed by Dr Muhammad Suffyan, MB BS (GMC 8023727) · Last reviewed September 2026
The shape of the hour
You describe one real moment that goes wrong. We pick one skill. We practise with one adult first. A peer comes later if the child is ready. Pillar: social skills. How Mahnoor frames it: her page.
Who is in the room
Mahnoor’s plan. ABA hours often with Noor Fatima. Anxiety underneath with Salman.
What we reinforce
The attempt, not a performance of “nice”. A grabbed toy that they then offered back is data. A perfect smile with no play is not the goal. Mahnoor: how she teaches this. ABA hours: Noor.
Parents stay at first so they see the prompt. Then we fade you too.
When anxiety is the real wall
The skill is there at home and gone at school, or gone the moment a peer appears. That may be anxiety, not a missing script. Psychology: Salman. Related: anxiety, shy or anxious.
We reinforce the attempt
Not a performance of “nice”. Eye contact is not the goal. Pillar: social skills. Anxiety underneath: Salman.
The idea behind the work (in the books)
One adult, then one peer, then a group. A noisy class as step one is often unkind.
Mundy and Kasari — joint engagement
A shared game is the floor under later friendship. We teach a two-person game before we talk about friends.
Bandura — model then fade
Act the greeting and the “can I play?”, then fade. A worksheet about sharing is not a model.
What the research tells us
This isn’t just our opinion — it’s grounded in published research. Here are a few findings from trusted, independent sources:
NICE CG170 recommends a play-based social-communication intervention with parents, carers and teachers to increase joint attention, engagement and reciprocal communication, adjusted to the child’s developmental level. For pre-school children it recommends parent mediation.
— NICE Clinical Guideline CG170 — Autism spectrum disorder in under 19s: support and management. View source
Take a worksheet home
Print one sheet. Fill it in this week. Bring it to the consultation — a consultation is Rs 1,500 and lasts up to 50 minutes.
Requesting cards
Help, more, finished, stop, my turn, can I play — a faster ask than screaming.
First–then board
The hard moment, then the promised good thing — set out before the fight starts.
Social-skills home program (PDF)
One peer, one game, a goodbye that ends.
Book a consultation
Contact owner Muhammad Salman Afzal first. No referral needed. A consultation is Rs 1,500 and lasts up to 50 minutes.
A session — questions parents ask
Will you put them in a large group first?
No. One adult, then one peer, then a group. A noisy class as step one is often unkind.
Do parents stay?
Often at first, so you see the prompt. Then we fade you too, on purpose.
How many children will be in the session?
Often none at first — one adult. A peer comes when the skill exists with one adult. We will not surprise you with a group.
How many children in the session?
Often none at first — one adult. A peer comes when the skill exists with one adult.
Ask about a session
A short, friendly conversation is the best first step. Call, text or WhatsApp us — we’ll listen and guide you, with no pressure.
MPS Road, Block A Model Town, Multan (near Bloomfield Hall School, Street No. 2) · Mon–Fri, 2 PM – 6 PM