Can we use video games to improve social skills in Autism?

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Just wondering if any parents would be interested in a computer program that has mini-games that measure and ENHANCE social skills. I am currently looking to develop one based on my years of research. If you are a parent, would you use games like this as a touchstone for real life teamwork? Do you think skills taught in games could generalize to real life? Have you had any experiences relevant to this?

Please let me know. The sort of games I am making can be seen at mymoneymyscience dot com. They are simple, yet require players to work together in order to win/have fun.

If you or your children have any ideas for teamwork games you think I could add to the suite of games please let me know!

Roger
twitter: RogerNewNor
facebook: Autism Video Game Project

I am big into games, but I think most of my son's social issues are with real life people, and that is probably best worked on in real life. I don't know if my son could distinguish a real life actor in a game from an NPC. Well, I shouldn't say that. He probably could, but I don't know that it would make a difference to him.

I used to play L.A. Noire like crazy before, and that's one of the reasons I know body language and expressions better today

I hear you, and thank you so much for your opinion! The games I am developing force players to cooperate (carrying a bar together, lifting a ball together, playing tag, etc). They also require attention to social cues like eyeballs and faces. I think that by 'teaching' the importance of paying attention to these in video games, there might be carry over to real-life situations. I agree that the games would not be a substitute, more of a Stepping Stone!

Roger
twitter: RogerNewNor
facebook: Autism Video Games Project

I think games like this would be great - my daughter loves video games, so if they could possibly teach her how to function in the real world, that would be great! I wonder if you could do any games that would help her with emotion regulation.

Absolutely. We found teaching our 4yr turn taking via online games was easier than with actual games or toys and it generalized well. I think a lot of our kids are super tech savvy and gravitate to computers. Why not use their special interest.

It is better to teach Social Skills in Real Life not in a Video Game.

Real Life Social Skills teaching can also be used to teach Nerotypicals not to Bully people who have a Disability. This is best taught in Real Life situations not Video Games.

There aren't any Video Games out there teaching Neurotypicals not to Bully, so why should there be Video Games teaching kids with Disabilties Life Skills?

As long as Video Games are used as Entertainment and not Teaching, then kids who have Disabilities will better off in Real Life.

My 4yr who just started to become verbal taught himself to read with ABC mouse and Youtube. We read to him everyday, but that isn't where he taught himself. Once he decided he was ready he showed us by bring us flashcards and then reading them. Then we provided 'Real Life' tools and opportunities. Life is better than video games, but I am not going to turn away any tool that works for him. If he feels more comfortable practicing and researching a life skills via an Ipad and later on a game console, then so be it. This wasn't the first or will it be the last time he learns some new skill from either a game or a youtube video all on his own. When he is ready then we generalize them out. We are lucky he is really easy to generalize, it is just getting him comfortable to do it in the first place.

I have accepted that I am only holding back if I insist on deciding the best way for him to learn. I have important skills that I need him to learn, but the how should be directed by him.

I am just saying this about my little guy, you know best about yours.

Pretty much any multiplayer game teaches social skills, but depending on the game, the social rules can sometimes be as difficult is not more difficult to get as social skills in 'real life'. (I find it easier to get along with real-life people than with World of Warcraft players - that's a pretty nasty community!)

One game that has a pretty nice and supportive community is League of Legends. You can nominate players for various kinds of good behaviour, so you get very clear positive feedback. And since there are in-game rewards for being nominated by other players (especially strangers), many people make an effort to be good team players and nice to others. It makes for a nice environment to practice in, and the game itself requires anticipating and cooperating with your team members to do really well.

I've often talked about our first intervention with my son, which involved a research-based social skills video game - Secret Agent Society. I do think it helped him more than anything else we've tried, but it was in conjunction with a social skills group run by two therapists.

n my experience MMOs help...ALOT...It is different sure and you need to find one witha good community(hard to do these days) but overal they can really help.

I think video games idea is ok but it depends on the age of the child

My daughter will be 9 this year and she seems to be using books/movies more than video games.

My son pays attention to body language very well. Unfortunately, whatever he reads into the body language, he holds onto for dear life even if it completely unconfirmed and turns out to be completely wrong. He won't take anyone's word that he is incorrect.

Is there anyway to teach about this in a video or otherwise?