What Is Perspective Taking and Why Does It Matter for Neurodivergent Learners?
Understanding another person’s thoughts, feelings, and intentions is a foundational skill that shapes communication, relationships, and everyday problem-solving. For many neurodivergent individuals, including children and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and learning disabilities—perspective taking doesn’t always develop naturally. It needs to be explicitly taught, modeled, and practiced systematically.
At EdQueries, we believe that teaching perspective taking isn’t about “correcting” behavior. It’s about empowering learners with the cognitive tools to understand the world through multiple viewpoints, develop empathy, and communicate with confidence.
Why Is Perspective Taking Difficult for Children with Autism, ADHD, and Intellectual Disabilities?
Neurodivergent children—especially those on the autism spectrum, with intellectual disabilities, ADHD, slow processing speed, or developmental delays—often experience challenges such as:
- Literal interpretation of language and situations
- Difficulty understanding hidden or implied meanings
- Missing non-verbal cues including tone of voice, gestures, and facial expressions
- Confusion with figurative language such as sarcasm, jokes, idioms, and riddles
- Assuming shared knowledge—believing everyone knows what they know
Understanding Theory of Mind Development
These challenges occur because the skill known as theory of mind—the cognitive ability to understand that others have different thoughts, knowledge, beliefs, and emotions—develops differently for neurodivergent individuals.
This explains why a child might laugh when someone cries. It’s not meanness—they genuinely haven’t yet grasped the emotional context of the situation.
Selman’s Stages of Perspective Taking Development in Children
Perspective taking develops gradually throughout childhood and adolescence. According to developmental psychologist Robert Selman, the stages include:
Ages 3–6: Early Awareness
Children begin to realize that others can think differently from themselves.
Ages 5–9: Different Knowledge Understanding
They understand that people can have different knowledge based on what they’ve seen or experienced.
Ages 7–12: Emotional Perspective Taking
They develop the ability to “step into another person’s shoes” and infer emotions, intentions, and motivations.
For neurodivergent learners, these developmental stages often progress more slowly and require intentional teaching, repeated practice, and structured support.
How Perspective Taking Builds Flexible Thinking in Autistic Children
Teaching perspective taking also supports cognitive flexibility—something many autistic learners and children with intellectual disabilities struggle with naturally.
Learning that:
- Other people think differently
- Different individuals may react differently to the same situation
- Emotions can be complex, layered, or contradictory
…helps reduce rigid thinking, improves social understanding, and minimizes behavioral challenges.
Evidence-Based Strategies to Teach Perspective Taking to Neurodivergent Children
Helping neurodivergent learners understand others’ thoughts and feelings requires structure, visual supports, and patience. Here are proven strategies:
1. Start with Concrete Visual Supports
Visual learning tools work exceptionally well for autistic children, slow learners, and children with intellectual disabilities.
EdQueries provides several perspective-taking resources that use visual scenes paired with simple comprehension questions:
Perspective Taking Games:
Advanced Perspective Taking & False Belief Quizzes (Age 12+):
These interactive activities help learners interpret social situations, understand others’ thoughts, and recognize different emotions.
2. Teach the Difference Between Thoughts and Speech Using Visual Bubbles
Understanding the distinction between what someone thinks versus what someone says is crucial for social communication.
EdQueries offers:
Using Social Filters
These games help children differentiate between internal thoughts and spoken words—especially beneficial for learners who interpret language literally.
3. Use Social Filter Activities for Real-Life Communication Skills
To help children understand what is appropriate to say aloud versus what should stay private, EdQueries created the Using Social Filters series:
- Using Social Filters: Game 1
- Using Social Filters: Game 2
- Using Social Filters: Game 3
- Using Social Filters: Game 4
These activities teach learners how to choose polite, socially appropriate responses in various situations.
4. Scaffold the Skill Step by Step Using Progressive Complexity
Start with simple activities and gradually increase complexity:
- Begin with cause-and-effect games
- Move to basic inference activities
- Introduce picture-based reasoning
- Explore full social scenarios
- Start with multiple-choice prompts
- Gradually reduce support to encourage independent thinking
This structured scaffolding allows learners to progress at their own pace while building confidence.
5. Ask Guiding Questions to Promote Critical Thinking
Use short, clear questions such as:
- “What do you think this person is feeling?”
- “Why might they feel that way?”
- “What might happen next?”
- “Would you feel the same way in this situation?”
Pair these questions with EdQueries interactive games to strengthen comprehension and social reasoning skills.
Practical Perspective Taking Activities for Autism, ADHD & Learning Disabilities
🟦 Emotion Sorting Using Thought Bubbles
Match characters with their possible thoughts or feelings using visual supports.
🟩 “What Happens Next?” Prediction Activities
Show learners pictures and ask them to predict the next event—especially effective for children with ADHD.
🟨 Role-Play Social Scenarios
Use everyday situations like sharing toys, waiting in line, or resolving conflicts through structured role-play.
🟪 Interactive Storybooks with Think/Say Bubbles
Use sticky notes or digital tools to add thought bubbles to story characters, helping children distinguish internal thoughts from dialogue.
Why Interactive Digital Tools Like EdQueries Work for Neurodivergent Learners
Interactive learning platforms provide:
- Repetition and practice without social pressure
- Immediate feedback to reinforce learning
- Visual structure that supports diverse learning styles
- Reduced social anxiety compared to face-to-face instruction
- Hands-on engagement that maintains attention
This makes digital tools especially supportive for children with autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, intellectual disabilities, and learning disabilities.
EdQueries’ inclusive, accessible games make abstract social concepts concrete, engaging, and fun to learn.
Key Takeaways: Teaching Perspective Taking to Neurodivergent Children
Teaching perspective taking is more than just a social skill—it’s a bridge to empathy, effective communication, cognitive flexibility, and stronger relationships. When we patiently guide neurodivergent learners to “see through someone else’s eyes,” we help them connect more deeply with the world around them.
And sometimes, meaningful learning begins with something as simple as looking inside a piggy bank.
Try Evidence-Based Perspective Taking Tools for Your Neurodivergent Learner
Support your child’s social-emotional development with interactive tools designed for all abilities.
👉 Try the Perspective Taking Games at EdQueries.com
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is perspective taking in children?
Perspective taking is the cognitive ability to understand that other people have different thoughts, feelings, knowledge, and beliefs than your own.
Why do autistic children struggle with perspective taking?
Children with autism often have differences in theory of mind development, making it harder to naturally understand that others have different mental states, knowledge, or viewpoints.
At what age should children develop perspective taking skills?
Typically developing children begin understanding perspective taking between ages 3-6, with more complex skills developing through age 12. Neurodivergent children may develop these skills later.
How can I teach perspective taking to my child with ADHD?
Use visual supports, interactive games, role-play activities, and repeated practice with immediate feedback. Tools like EdQueries’ perspective taking games are specifically designed for neurodivergent learners.
What are theory of mind activities for autism?
Theory of mind activities include false belief tasks, thought bubble exercises, emotion recognition games, social scenario role-plays, and perspective taking quizzes.
✨ Empower Every Learner — Start with Free Learning Tools!
At EdQueries, we believe that every child deserves access to inclusive, engaging, and meaningful learning experiences.
Our Free Learning Snapshot offers a glimpse into how interactive, adaptive modules can support students with diverse learning needs — including those with autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and intellectual disabilities.
🎮 Explore interactive games, learn inclusive strategies, and experience how structured play can make abstract concepts like time, sequencing, and communication come alive.
Discover more from EdQueries E-Learning
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.