Engaging in play with children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) isn’t just fun—it’s also an enriching experience that can significantly benefit both the child and the caregiver. Playtime offers a unique opportunity for growth, learning, and connection. This interaction not only supports the development of crucial skills in children with ASD but also fosters a deep bond.
Children with autism may experience the world differently, but like all children, they love to play and explore. This blog aims to guide caregivers, educators, and parents on how to structure play activities in a way that is both enjoyable and educationally beneficial for children with autism. By tailoring playtime to meet their specific needs, we can create an inclusive environment where every child feels comfortable and motivated to engage.
Embrace the journey as we explore various play techniques, activities, and strategies designed to enrich the lives of children with autism while strengthening their social, cognitive, and emotional skills.
Autism and Play | Tips
Here are some tips for playing with a child who has autism:
- Follow the child’s lead: Children with autism may have different interests and preferences than neurotypical children. It’s important to observe the child’s interests and preferences and follow their lead in play. This can help the child feel more in control and more motivated to engage in play activities.
- Use visual supports: Many children with autism benefit from visual supports, such as pictures or written instructions, to help them understand and participate in play activities. Using visual supports can make play more structured and predictable, which can be particularly helpful for children with autism.
- Incorporate sensory play: Children with autism may have heightened or different sensory needs than neurotypical children. Sensory play activities, such as playing with playdough or water, can be a fun and engaging way to meet these sensory needs.
- Use structured play activities: Structured play activities can be a helpful way to provide a sense of predictability and structure for children with autism. These activities may involve following a set of rules or steps, and can include games, puzzles, or other activities.
- Encourage social interaction: Children with autism may struggle with social interaction, but it’s important to encourage and support social play as much as possible. This can involve playing with toys that require taking turns, playing simple board games, or engaging in other activities that involve social interaction. Be sure to integrate breaks, and allow the child to stop the activity any time they feel overwhelmed.
- Be patient and supportive: Playing with a child who has autism may require a little extra patience and support. It’s important to be understanding and to provide positive reinforcement when the child engages in play activities.
Remember, every child is different, so it’s important to be flexible and responsive to the child’s needs and preferences. With a little patience and creativity, playing with a child who has autism can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for both the child and the caregiver.
How to play with a child with autism | Examples of Games
There are many different games and activities that can be enjoyable and therapeutic for children with severe autism. Here are a few ideas:
Sensory Play
Children with autism often gravitate towards sensory play, which stimulates their senses and can be both calming and enjoyable:
- Playing with Playdough: Squishing, rolling, and shaping playdough can provide tactile feedback and encourage creativity.
- Making Music with Instruments: Simple instruments like drums, xylophones, or shakers can help with auditory stimulation.
- Jumping on a Trampoline: Provides proprioceptive feedback and helps with balance and coordination.
- Sensory Bins: Filling containers with rice, beans, or sand.
- Water Play: Splashing in a water table or bath can be soothing and offers opportunities for imaginative play.
- Bubble Play: Blowing and popping bubbles can be visually stimulating and help with visual tracking.
- Touch-and-Feel Books: Encourages tactile exploration and language development.
- Scented Playdough or Slime: Incorporating scents into playdough or slime for olfactory stimulation.
- Light Tables: Playing with translucent colored shapes on a light table offers visual sensory play.
- Vibrating Toys: Provides unique tactile stimuli that many children find calming.
Structured Play
Structured play, with clear rules and predictable outcomes, can help children with autism feel secure:
- Board Games: Simple games like “Candy Land” or “Chutes and Ladders” teach turn-taking and following rules.
- Card Games: “Go Fish” or “Old Maid” are straightforward and can help with number or pattern recognition.
- Puzzles: Jigsaw puzzles or shape sorters build problem-solving skills and fine motor coordination.
- Memory Games: Matching pairs of cards helps improve concentration and memory.
- Building Blocks: Sets like LEGO, with specific instructions for building, encourage following steps and creativity.
- Tactile Matching Games: Matching textures or objects hidden in bags based on touch alone.
- Sequence Games: Games that require actions to be completed in a specific order.
- Coloring Books: Following the lines and coloring within spaces can be a calming, structured activity.
Imitation Games
Imitation games help children with autism develop social skills and understanding through replication of actions and routines:
- Playing with Dolls or Stuffed Animals: Encourages imitating caregiving routines and social interactions.
- Pretend Play with Props: Using hats, costumes, or toy food for role-playing simple scenarios.
- Simon Says: Teaches body awareness and following instructions through mimicry.
- Role-playing Scenarios: Such as playing “school” allows for practicing social roles and rules.
- Copying Simple Movements: Clapping patterns or simple dance moves help with coordination and rhythm.
- Mimicking Animal Movements: Jumping like a frog or walking like a bear can be fun and educational.
- Echo Games: Repeating sounds or words strengthens communication skills.
- Matching Poses: Using pictures or figures, children attempt to match poses, enhancing visual-spatial skills.
Visual Games and Activities
Visual supports not only help with understanding and communication but can also create engaging play:
- Picture Card Games: Such as sorting or matching activities using cards with vivid images.
- Visual Schedules: For play sequences or routines, helping the child anticipate what’s next.
- Color Sorting: Using colored objects or beads, sort by color in designated containers.
- Flashcard Activities: Exploring words, emotions, or actions through visual cues.
- Picture-Based Storytelling: Creating stories using a sequence of images.
- Coloured and Sensory lights
Physical Play
Activities that encourage the use of large muscles can be particularly beneficial for children with autism, promoting health and motor skills:
- Throwing, Catching, or Kicking a Ball: Helps with coordination, turn-taking, and social interaction.
- Climbing on Playground Equipment: Builds strength, balance, and confidence.
- Hopscotch: Combines jumping, counting, and balance.
- Riding a Bike or Tricycle: Supports gross motor development and independence.
- Dancing: Can be a joyful way to move the body and can be adapted to any ability level.
- Swinging: Provides vestibular sensory stimulation and can be calming or exciting, depending on the child’s preference.
Points to keep in mind
Here are some general points to keep in mind when assessing or designing social games for children with autism:
Structure and Rules: Games should have clear, consistent rules and structure. This helps children with autism understand what is expected of them.
- Communication is key. Make sure this is a two way process- enable the child to have some means of communication with you to express how they are feeling about the activity. Non-verbal children may need support and tools to communicate using other forms of communication.
Visual Supports: Incorporating visual aids can assist children who have difficulty with verbal instructions or are visual learners.
Flexibility: While structure is important, some flexibility should be allowed to enable the child to enjoy the game without feeling overwhelmed or stressed by rigid gameplay.
Predictability: Predictable gameplay helps to reduce anxiety and allows children with autism to feel more in control.
Solo play or Small Groups: Starting with solo activities then transitioning to games in smaller groups can be less intimidating and help a child with autism to engage more comfortably.
Guidance and Support: Adult monitoring and guidance can ensure the game remains positive and inclusive.
- Positive Reinforcement: Encourage and reward positive interactions to reinforce learning and build confidence.
Social Stories: Social stories can be used to prepare the child for the game by explaining the sequence of events and expected behaviors in a story format.
It’s important to customize social games and activities to meet the needs and abilities of each child. If a game isn’t working well for a child with autism, feedback should be shared with the developers or educators responsible for the game so that they can make necessary alterations or provide alternative options.
If you are creating or modifying a game yourself, consider working with autism specialists, therapists, or educators who have experience in this area. Your feedback and involvement can be instrumental in creating a more inclusive and understanding environment for children with autism.
Overall, it is important to find activities that are tailored to the interests and abilities of the individual child with autism. By experimenting with different types of games and activities, you can find what works best for your child and help them to have fun and learn new skills