Social communication (also called pragmatics) is how we use language in everyday interactions. It’s not just what we say, but how, when, and why we say it. Strong social communication skills help children and adults make friends, share ideas, solve problems, and confidently navigate school, work, and relationships.
What Are Social Communication Skills?
Social communication skills involve both spoken language and nonverbal communication. These include:
-
Starting and maintaining conversations
-
Taking turns and staying on topic
-
Understanding gestures, tone of voice, and facial expressions
-
Adjusting language depending on who you’re speaking to
-
Interpreting jokes, sarcasm, and implied meanings
These skills are essential for building healthy relationships, engaging in group learning, and participating successfully in everyday life .
How Social Communication Skills Develop
Social communication begins in infancy:
-
Infancy: Babies engage in eye contact, babbling, and gestures to begin “conversations.”
-
Toddler years: Children start using language to express needs and desires.
-
Preschool: Kids practise turn-taking, simple conversations, and perspective-taking.
-
School age: They can stay on topic, negotiate, and understand abstract or figurative language.
-
Adolescence: Skills become more advanced, including humour, sarcasm, and adapting to different social groups .
When these skills are delayed or impaired, children may struggle with friendships, schoolwork, or confidence. Without support, challenges in social communication can also contribute to behavioural and emotional difficulties later in life .
Why Social Communication Skills Matter
Strong social communication skills are directly linked to:
-
Academic success: Classroom participation and group projects require negotiation, turn-taking, and sharing ideas.
-
Friendships & relationships: Social communication is key for making and keeping friends.
-
Emotional wellbeing: Being able to interpret and express emotions reduces frustration and builds confidence.
Evidence shows that early support for children with pragmatic language difficulties improves long-term outcomes .
How Speech Therapists Support Social Communication
Speech therapists use evidence-based strategies to strengthen social communication. Therapy may focus on:
-
Initiating and responding: Helping children start, maintain, and take turns in conversations.
-
Nonverbal communication: Teaching understanding and use of gestures, facial expressions, and personal space.
-
Social-emotional awareness: Supporting children to recognise others’ emotions and perspectives.
-
Flexible thinking & self-regulation: Building adaptability in conversations and topic changes.
-
Cooperation & negotiation: Practising teamwork and problem-solving in group situations.
Targeted interventions — especially when introduced early — significantly improve social outcomes for children with pragmatic language difficulties or autism spectrum disorder .
Key Takeaway
Social communication is about connection, not just conversation. If your child struggles with making friends, understanding jokes, or reading social cues, a qualified speech therapist can provide the tools they need to build confidence and thrive in social environments.
References
-
American Speech-Language Hearing Association. Social Communication Benchmarks. ASHA
-
Adams, C. et al. (2012). The Social Communication Intervention Project: a randomized control trial of speech and language therapy for children with pragmatic/social communication problems. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 47(3), 233–244. PubMed
-
Parsons, P. et al. (2017). A systematic review of pragmatic language interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder. PLoS ONE, 12(4): e0172242. PLoS One
-
Victorian Government (2023). Conversation and social skills. Literacy Teaching Toolkit