Why Can My Autistic Child Do a Skill at Home but Not Somewhere Else?

A skill learned in one place does not always transfer automatically to another. Your child may know what to do at home but struggle when the person, setting, materials, instructions, or expectations change. This does not mean they forgot or are refusing. Practice the same skill in different places, with different people and materials, and vary the wording gradually. Each successful use of the skill in a new situation helps build generalization and independence.