FEEL: Facing Emotions in Early Learners with Autism

Abstract

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may exhibit deficits in social and emotional skills, which may negatively impact their social development. This paper aims to provide general and special education teachers with strategies to effectively teach emotional skills in inclusive settings to children between 4 and 8 years old, including those with ASD. To address the social and emotional deficits that children with ASD often experience, key strategies are described to teach children to recognize, label, and express emotions. In addition, general instructional supports such as assessment, feedback, reinforcement, routine-building, and strategies to promote generalization are organized around the Four Stages of Learning: acquisition, fluency, maintenance, and generalization. These strategies are flexible and adaptable to various environments, age groups, and individual needs. Step-by-step instructions and classroom examples for each strategy are provided, enabling teachers to confidently and effectively utilize them.