Parenting a child with a 22q-related condition can feel like navigating an invisible map. You might notice your child struggling to make friends, hesitating in social situations, or seeming “younger” than their peers in how they interact. You might wonder, “Why does my child have such a hard time picking up on social cues? Why are friendships so tricky for them?”
The truth is, for many children with 22q, social skills development can be a unique and challenging journey—and it’s not because they don’t want to connect. It’s because social understanding is a complex skill set that grows differently for every child.
In this blog, we explore what social cognition is, why it can be difficult for children with 22q, and how parents can support their child’s social growth with simple, powerful strategies.
What Is Social Cognition, Really?
Social cognition is a fancy term for the skills we use to understand and navigate the social world. It includes things like:
– Recognising emotions in ourselves and others
– Interpreting social cues, like facial expressions or tone of voice
– Understanding others’ thoughts and intentions (sometimes called “Theory of Mind”)
– Explaining social situations in a way that makes sense to us (known as “attributional style”)
These abilities help us know how to respond in conversations, how to build friendships, and how to connect meaningfully with others.
How Do These Skills Develop?
Although we are all born with a biological foundation for social cognition, it doesn’t develop automatically. Like learning to walk or talk, social thinking grows through life experiences, practice, and lots of trial and error.
Some children, including many with 22q-related conditions, may find developing these skills more challenging. They might need more repetition, more coaching, and more opportunities to build these abilities over time.
Why Is Social Cognition Tricky for Children with 22q?
Parents of children with 22q often share similar worries: “Will my child make friends? Why do they seem so shy or withdrawn? How can I help them?”
Many children with 22q deletion are described as socially immature, anxious in new situations, or slow to initiate friendships. It’s not that they don’t want to connect—they often really want to—but understanding the “hidden rules” of social interaction can feel overwhelming and confusing. Forming lasting relationships may take more time, support, and scaffolding. It is also about finding the right ‘tribe’ for each child.
The Power of Modelling
As a parent, you are your child’s most important guide to the social world.
When you model empathy, perspective-taking, and clear emotional communication, you are teaching skills that your child absorbs, even if they don’t always show it right away.
Here are some ways you can model and encourage social understanding at home:
- Talk about emotions, your own and others’, as they happen. Label feelings out loud: “I’m feeling excited because we’re going somewhere fun!”
- Be explicit. Don’t assume your child can infer what’s going on. Spell it out: *”When someone looks away while you’re talking, it might mean they’re feeling shy or overwhelmed.”*
- Role-play social situations together. Practice greetings, problem-solving, or navigating tricky peer interactions through simple pretend play.
- Play games that build perspective-taking, like emotion charades or storytelling where characters see situations differently.
- Use social stories to walk through common scenarios, helping your child predict what might happen and how they might respond.
Practical Ways to Strengthen Social Thinking
Here are a few more simple, effective strategies to support your child’s social cognition every day:
- Name your emotions and experiences often and clearly.
- Talk through how you recognise feelings, in body language, voice tone, or facial expressions.
- Use storytelling to explore multiple perspectives.
- Play empathy games, like guessing what someone might be feeling and why.
- Discuss social scenes from TV shows or books: “How do you think that character felt when that happened?”
Supporting Social Growth Takes Time
For many children with 22q, developing social understanding is not a straightforward path. This is not a reflection of effort or care from the child or their parents. It’s simply the nature of how these skills unfold when the social world feels complex and overwhelming.
Building social cognition isn’t about rushing toward milestones. It’s about creating a steady environment where conversations about emotions, perspectives, and social experiences are part of daily life. It’s about offering repeated opportunities for practice, exploration, and reflection—without pressure to “get it right” straight away.
With ongoing support and trust in your child’s pace, social connections can strengthen in meaningful ways, even if the path looks different than expected.
To learn more, register for our live or on-demand webinar “Social Cognition and Friendships.
