Playing, Laughing and Learning with Children on the Autism Spectrum: A Practical Resource of Play Ideas for Parents and Carers (2nd ed)

Playing, Laughing and Learning with Children on the Autism Spectrum: A Practical Resource of Play Ideas for Parents and Carers (Second Edition)
......Page 5
Contents......Page 9
Introduction......Page 15
1. Why is Playing So Important?......Page 19
Why is play so difficult for children with autism?......Page 20
So what do we actually mean by play?......Page 21
Using this book......Page 22
The drive to avoid......Page 23
Communication......Page 24
Ideas to try......Page 26
Moving on......Page 29
Individual example: Andrew......Page 30
What is Intensive Interaction?......Page 33
Why do children on the autism spectrum need structure?......Page 35
What does ‘structuring play’ actually mean and how does itwork?......Page 36
Creating play opportunity – setting the stage......Page 38
Breaking play down into tasks......Page 39
Applied behavioural analysis (ABA)......Page 42
Structuring early learning......Page 43
Individual example: Sam......Page 45
Structuring the day – creating a visual diary......Page 46
Introducing choice and flexibility......Page 48
4. Your Computer as a Valuable Resource......Page 49
Free picture communication aids......Page 50
Websites to explore emotions......Page 51
Websites for worksheets and craft activities......Page 52
Websites for interactive games......Page 53
Using interactive computer games with your child......Page 54
Adaptive hardware......Page 57
Visual prompts for computer use......Page 61
Electronic books......Page 62
Using digital photography to make activities......Page 63
Using digital photography to assist understanding andchoice making......Page 65
Help – my child won’t play with his toys!......Page 69
Reassessing existing toys: back to basics......Page 71
Picture prompts for playing......Page 73
Getting started: ideas......Page 74
Individual example: Sally......Page 77
What to look for in appropriate toys......Page 79
Separating toys into challengers and reinforcers......Page 80
The importance of realism......Page 82
Specific useful toys......Page 84
Birthdays and Christmas......Page 85
What is a puzzle?......Page 87
Getting started......Page 89
Shapes......Page 91
Introducing fun into table-top play......Page 93
Colours......Page 94
Matching games......Page 96
Posting games......Page 98
Simple jigsaws......Page 100
Bricks......Page 101
Threading......Page 102
Categories......Page 103
Memory Games......Page 104
Saviour and enemy......Page 107
Introducing new sound......Page 110
Listening and playing to music together......Page 111
Relaxation......Page 112
Scripts to rhythm – encouraging speech through song......Page 113
How does this work in practice? – ideas......Page 114
Singing spontaneous commentaries......Page 117
Making your own music......Page 119
Using your music box......Page 120
Reducing background noise in the home......Page 125
Auditory Integration Training......Page 126
Theory of mind and social development......Page 127
Why is turn-taking difficult for children on the autismspectrum?......Page 128
Awareness of others: practical activities to help......Page 129
Awareness of others’ thoughts: practical activities to help......Page 131
Small beginnings: turn-taking with an adult......Page 134
Turn-taking with peers and siblings......Page 138
Aids to help turn-taking......Page 139
Turn-taking in everyday life......Page 140
Sensory integration problems......Page 143
Getting started......Page 147
Ball games......Page 148
Small ball play......Page 149
Large hoop......Page 151
Indoor ball pit......Page 152
Making a tactile box......Page 154
Imaginative uses for boxes......Page 155
Puppet theatre......Page 156
Indoor slide and balance beam......Page 157
Cushions......Page 158
Other useful physical play toys......Page 159
Problems and solutions......Page 163
Safety......Page 164
The benefits of outdoor play......Page 165
The need for structure......Page 166
Pavement chalking......Page 167
Throwing balls at targets......Page 168
Sand play......Page 169
Messy art......Page 170
Balance and coordination games......Page 172
Outdoor adult role-play......Page 173
Picnics......Page 174
Big outdoor play equipment......Page 176
Tunnels, play tents and cubes......Page 180
Outdoor play in winter weather......Page 182
Problems and solutions......Page 185
Individual example: Katherine......Page 187
Enjoying water play indoors......Page 188
Bath-time play......Page 189
Table-top water play......Page 191
Outdoor water play......Page 193
Swimming......Page 194
Television – why?......Page 197
Common problems and possible solutions......Page 198
Many uses for the camcorder......Page 202
Video modelling......Page 204
Why art?......Page 207
Gaining attention by being indirect......Page 208
Getting started......Page 209
Art ideas......Page 213
Scissors and glue......Page 216
Craft......Page 218
14. Creating Imaginative Play Sequences......Page 223
What type of toys?......Page 224
Realism......Page 225
Familiarity......Page 226
The right environment......Page 227
Getting started......Page 228
Building scripts......Page 229
Individual example: Jonathan......Page 230
In summary......Page 233
I can’t draw!......Page 235
Problems......Page 236
This seems like so much effort!......Page 237
The problems......Page 239
Starting out: looking at books together......Page 240
Individual example: Peter......Page 241
Individual example: Fay......Page 242
Ideas......Page 243
Moving on: reading for meaning......Page 244
Problems with reading for meaning......Page 245
Story sequences and consequences......Page 250
Goals......Page 251
Observation, timing and preparation......Page 252
Specific books to try......Page 253
Popular characters......Page 258
CD/book packages......Page 259
Early literacy......Page 260
Word recognition......Page 261
Individual example: Lewis......Page 263
Activities to develop language understanding......Page 264
Finally......Page 267
Deal with your own frustration first!......Page 269
Reducing stress whilst you play......Page 271
Flexible parenting for rigid children......Page 275
Enjoy your child......Page 278
BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 281
THERAPEUTIC OPTIONS/ORGANIZATIONS......Page 283
RECOMMENDED READING......Page 287
WEBSITES FOR ARTICLES WRITTEN BY ADULTS WITH AUTISM......Page 289
TOYS AND SUPPLIERS......Page 291
PICTURE PROMPTS TO COPY AND USE......Page 297
INDEX......Page 301