Social skills encompass a wide range of abilities, including basic social etiquette (e.g., saying “hello” when someone arrives and saying “goodbye” when leaving), holding a conversation, understanding the ‘cues’ in social situations (i.e., “reading the room”), and understanding the (often unwritten) ‘rules’ of how to behave in certain situations.

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When a child is having difficulty making or keeping friends, understanding what happens in social situations, engaging in social etiquette, or holding a conversation, assessment of their social skills is warranted. This typically involves structured and unstructured conversations and play with the child (depending on their age), as well as asking the child to share their understanding of various social concepts (such as friendship). Parents and teachers may also complete questionnaires to provide additional information about the child’s social skills in day-to-day situations.