Welcome to s2s Insights! Welcome to the Steps to Socialization newsletter s2s Insights. Each month 'Social Thoughts' contains a theme article on a relevant social topic. Informative articles or books related to the theme can be found in 'News and Reviews'. The 'Tips and Tools' section contains social thinking tips and activities. 'In the Neighborhood' covers related events and programs.
There are different types of memory. This month we discuss social memory.
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Social Thoughts
Our students don't realize that we are always thinking about the people around us. We go into our memories and retrieve information about specific people and places.
We pass a store and we remember what we bought there. We pass a restaurant and we remember what we ate the last time we were there and who we were with. We see someone who we haven't spoken to in awhile and we use our social memory to retrieve the information we know about them. When did I see them last? How do I know them? Do I like the person? How have they treated me? What did we talk about? What is there occupation? What do I know about their family? Do we have any friends in common? Our social memory is on the job 24/7.
We may not remember specific conversations or situations but we do remember how someone made us feel. Susie doesn't like the teacher because she 'yelled' at her. Sam doesn't want to play the boy next door because he took away a toy. Jamie likes Ellen because she picked her to be on the team.
Social memory helps us to figure out what gift to buy friends and family. I know Mom likes flowers and books maybe I will get her a book about flowers. My friend likes sports and video games maybe I will get him a sports game.
Our conversations evolve based on what we remember about the person. I remember that you were going on vacation so I will ask you about the trip when I see you. I may ask a few questions and then I might tell the person about a similar experience I've had. We make people feel comfortable to be around us when we show interest in them by remembering details about them.
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Tips and Tools
Concept of the Month: Social Curiosity/Wondering When someone tells us that they went on vacation we 'wonder' how they felt about the trip, what they thought about the place. We ask questions to satisfy our 'curiosity' and to let the person know we are interested in them. When we think about or are curious about the feelings and thoughts of others we are exhibiting social curiosity or social wondering.
Activity: What Present Should We Get ? Ask your child to help you choose gifts for their friends and family. To do this they need to think about what they remember about each person. If they can't think of something, they can ask the person some questions to find out about the person's preferences.
Activity: Memory Game You can do this activity with the entire family. Write down all the things you remember about another family member. What do they like to do? What's their favorite color? What's their favorite TV show? etc...Whoever has the most items wins the game.
Activity: Asking Questions Help prepare your child to have a conversation. Ask them to tell you or write down 3 things they know about the person they will be visiting. Then have them think of 3 things they would like to find out based upon what they already know about the person.
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See you next month! In the meantime, please visit us on the web and read our blog.
Evelyn
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