Practicing Social Skills for Dates: A Guide for Guardians

As the guardian of an adult with intellectual disabilities, practicing social skills with them can build their confidence before a first date. You can help your loved one feel more comfortable and prepared by teaching them how to keep conversations going, listen actively, and connect meaningfully with their date.

Tips for Keeping the Conversation Going

A successful date often comes down to great conversation. Here’s a few skills to practice with your loved one:

1. Ask Questions

Teach your loved one how to ask open-ended questions that encourage their date to share more about themselves. Good questions to ask include:

• “What are your favorite hobbies?”
• “What kind of food do you like?”
• “What’s your favorite thing to do on weekends?”
• “What’s something you’ve always wanted to try?”

Here’s a video resource you can show them to help them learn about asking questions.

2. Wait for the Other Person to Finish Talking

Remind your loved one to wait until their date has finished their story or paused before responding. Interrupting can be unintentional but may make the other person feel unheard. Encourage them to listen carefully and wait for a natural break in the conversation before speaking. It’s exciting to talk to a new person, but remind them to show their excitement by listening carefully.

3. Ask Follow-Up Questions

Follow-up questions show that they’re paying attention and are curious to learn more. For example:

• If their date mentions they love sports, they could ask, “What is your favorite team?”
• If their date talks about their family, they might ask, “How many siblings do you have?”

4. Be a Good Listener

Help your loved one understand that being a good listener is just as important as sharing their own stories. Some tips to practice active listening include:

• Making eye contact.
• Nodding or smiling to show they’re engaged.
• Repeating something their date said, like “That sounds so fun!”

Here’s a video resource you can show them to help them learn about being a good listener.

Making Practice Fun and Engaging

Role-playing is a great way to practice these social skills with your loved one. Pretend to be their date and create different scenarios where they can practice asking questions, responding, and listening. You can also switch roles, so they get a sense of how good listening feels from the other side.

More Resources

Encourage your loved one to watch the Find Love Safely YouTube channel, where they’ll find helpful videos on practicing social skills, building confidence, and preparing for dates. These videos are tailored to their needs and provide additional support for their journey.

Final Thoughts

Helping your loved one develop strong social skills can give them the confidence they need to enjoy their dating experiences. With your guidance and the support of resources like Find Love Safely, they’ll be well-equipped to form meaningful connections and have enjoyable dates.

You’ve got this, and so do they!