The Effects of the Cool Versus Not Cool Procedure to Teach Social Game Play to Individuals Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Leaf and team tested a quick way to teach board-game rules to kids with autism. They used the cool versus not cool procedure. First the trainer shows the wrong way to play and says, 'Not cool.' Then she shows the right way and says, 'Cool.' Kids watch, then practice in a small group.

Eight children joined the social-skills group. The study tracked three different games. Each child had to learn all three rules before moving on.

Seven of the eight kids mastered every game after the cool/not-cool lessons. The steps went up fast on the data sheets. Teachers saw the new skills during free play later in the day.

Glugatch et al. (2021) took the same idea home. They taught brothers and sisters to use natural play prompts. The sibling version worked too, showing the method travels outside clinic rooms.

Bermúdez et al. (2020) swapped live demos for short videos. Kids still learned social skills fast. The choice of model—adult, peer, or superhero—did not matter. Together these studies say the BST frame works with many faces on the screen.

Abney et al. (2026) trimmed the package into 20-minute weekly slots for preschoolers. Their later, shorter format keeps the gains, proving you can shave time without losing punch.

You already run social-skills groups. Add the cool/not-cool demo pair and you get faster rule learning in board games. No extra toys or long prep needed. Try it next session: show the wrong move, label it 'not cool,' show the right move, label it 'cool,' then let kids rehearse. Track mastery across three games and watch the line climb.