Adapting to certain social situations and learning social skills are areas that a lot of children on the autism spectrum often struggle with. While there are a lot of techniques and strategies that help children learn social skills, not all these strategies are feasible or easy to implement at home. Luckily, video modeling is a technique that you can easily utilize at home with your child.
Let’s dive into the world of video modeling and explore some video modeling resources on the internet that are not only effective but also freely accessible!
What is Video Modeling?
Video Modeling is an evidence-based strategy wherein an individual watches a video of someone performing a particular skill and then tries to imitate the same. Through repetition, these behaviors can be applied to real-life situations. Since a lot of individuals with autism are good visual learners, video modeling proves to be highly effective.
Another perk of video modeling is that it completely eliminates the person-to-person contact from the learning process. This allows the child to be fully comfortable while learning; thus, improving the overall learning outcome.
Video Modeling has been proven to be beneficial in teaching skills like play skills, academic skills, everyday life skills, communication skills, and most importantly, social interaction skills.
How Can You Use Video Modeling At Home?
An advantage of using the video modeling strategy is that you can create the videos at home with the help of your family or friends. The videos may be structured around particular behaviors or skills that you wish to teach your child. Then, you can have your child watch the video and encourage him to try and imitate the particular behavior. Initially, you can also use verbal prompts or assistance if and when needed. The final goal would be for your child to learn the skill without watching the video beforehand.
You can also use ready-made videos if you wish to. We’ve listed some free video modeling resources for you down below!
Helpful Video Modeling Resources –
Here are some resources that will provide you with video modeling content ranging across numerous types of social skills that play a vital role in our day-to-day lives.
- Model Me Kids
(https://www.youtube.com/user/ModelMeKids/featured)
‘Model Me Kids’ features videos that are diverse in nature; ranging from various topics dealing with daily habits and tasks, social interactions, and real-life situations.
Some important videos featured on Model Me Kids include practical situations like preparing for airplane travel, grooming and hygiene, play skills, and much more!
- Penquis Autism Community Services
(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB2o08nCiDOC8OtSq__Z_rw/featured)
‘Penquis Autism Community Services’ provides useful videos that mainly focus on skills that we take for granted most of the time, but can be challenging for children on the autism spectrum.
The videos included are based on day-to-day tasks like buttoning a shirt, blowing your nose, washing your hair, and buckling a seat belt.
The videos are instructional; with a detailed step-by-step explanation of performing a particular task. Another helpful quality is that the videos make use of subtitles along with a verbal explanation to demonstrate a variety of important skills.
- TakTic Tools – Autism Resources
(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9u2kAfWUXS5hrn8HOQSVng/featured)
The content on TakTic Tools is mostly focused on modeling play skills in children. The videos demonstrate the ways in which a child could play with a particular toy.
The channel includes videos that teach the skills of stacking, assembling, and building used during play.
The videos are perfect for babies and toddlers who have just started developing play skills.
- Everyday Speech
(https://www.youtube.com/c/EverydaySpeech/featured)
Everyday Speech focuses on teaching children social skills that are needed in everyday interactions.
Social skills like non-verbal communication, conversation skills, friendship skills, and understanding emotions are included.
Everyday Speech provides amazing content that will help your child learn the social-emotional skills that are used in most social settings in our day-to-day lives.
