Table of Contents

	Introduction	p. 13
	Why is Playing So Important?	p. 17
	Why is play so difficult for children with autism?	p. 18
	So what do we actually mean by play?	p. 19
	Using this book	p. 20
	Early Playing Skills: Gaining Attention and Sharing Space	p. 21
	What does 'sharing space' mean?	p. 21
	The drive to avoid	p. 21
	Communication	p. 22
	Ideas to try	p. 24
	Moving on	p. 27
	Individual example: Andrew	p. 28
	What is Intensive Interaction?	p. 31
	Structured Play	p. 33
	Why do children on the autism spectrum need structure?	p. 33
	What does 'structuring play' actually mean and how does it work?	p. 34
	Creating play opportunity - setting the stage	p. 36
	Breaking play down into tasks	p. 37
	Applied behavioural analysis (ABA)	p. 40
	Structuring early learning	p. 41
	Individual example: Sam	p. 43
	Structuring the day - creating a visual diary	p. 44
	Introducing choice and flexibility	p. 46
	Your Computer as a Valuable Resource	p. 47
	Free picture communication aids	p. 48
	Websites to explore emotions	p. 49
	Website for schedules/calendars/tokens	p. 50
	Websites for worksheets and craft activities	p. 50
	Websites for interactive games	p. 51
	Using interactive computer games with your child	p. 52
	Adaptive hardware	p. 55
	Visual prompts for computer use	p. 59
	Electronic books	p. 60
	Using digital photography to make activities	p. 61
	Using digital photography to assist understanding and choice making	p. 63
	Toys, Toys, Toys	p. 67
	Help - my child won't play with his toys!	p. 67
	Reassessing existing toys: back to basics	p. 69
	Being organized	p. 71
	Picture prompts for playing	p. 71
	Getting started: ideas	p. 72
	Individual example: Sally	p. 75
	Sources of toys	p. 77
	What to look for in appropriate toys	p. 77
	Separating toys into challengers and reinforcers	p. 78
	Modifying existing toys to remove stress	p. 80
	The importance of realism	p. 80
	Specific useful toys	p. 82
	Birthdays and Christmas	p. 83
	Table-Top Games and Puzzles	p. 85
	What is a puzzle?	p. 85
	Getting started	p. 87
	Shapes	p. 89
	Introducing fun into table-top play	p. 91
	Colours	p. 92
	Matching games	p. 94
	Posting games	p. 96
	Simple jigsaws	p. 98
	Bricks	p. 99
	Threading	p. 100
	Categories	p. 101
	Memory games	p. 102
	Music	p. 105
	Saviour and enemy	p. 105
	Ideas to try at home	p. 108
	Introducing new sound	p. 108
	Listening and playing to music together	p. 109
	Relaxation	p. 110
	Scripts to rhythm - encouraging speech through song	p. 111
	How does this work in practice? - ideas	p. 112
	Singing spontaneous commentaries	p. 115
	Making your own music	p. 117
	Using your music box	p. 118
	Reducing background noise in the home	p. 123
	Auditory Integration Training	p. 124
	Turn-Taking in Play	p. 125
	Theory of mind and social development	p. 125
	Why is turn-taking difficult for children on the autism spectrum?	p. 126
	Awareness of others: practical activities to help	p. 127
	Awareness of others' thoughts: practical activities to help	p. 129
	Small beginnings: turn-taking with an adult	p. 132
	Turn-taking with peers and siblings	p. 136
	Aids to help turn-taking	p. 137
	Turn-taking in everyday life	p. 138
	Physical Games and Activities	p. 141
	Sensory integration problems	p. 141
	Getting started	p. 145
	Ball games	p. 146
	Small ball play	p. 147
	Large hoop	p. 149
	Indoor ball pit	p. 150
	Large boxes	p. 152
	Making a tactile box	p. 152
	Imaginative uses for boxes	p. 153
	Human Jack-in-the-box	p. 154
	Puppet theatre	p. 154
	Trampoline	p. 155
	Indoor slide and balance beam	p. 155
	Cushions	p. 156
	Skittles	p. 157
	Other useful physical play toys	p. 157
	Outdoor Play	p. 161
	Problems and solutions	p. 161
	Safety	p. 162
	The benefits of outdoor play	p. 163
	The need for structure	p. 164
	Getting started: games and activities	p. 165
	Pavement chalking	p. 165
	Throwing balls at targets	p. 166
	Sand play	p. 167
	Messy art	p. 168
	Balance and coordination games	p. 170
	Balance beams	p. 171
	Outdoor adult role-play	p. 171
	Picnics	p. 172
	Big outdoor play equipment	p. 174
	Tunnels, play tents and cubes	p. 178
	Outdoor play in winter weather	p. 180
	Water Play	p. 183
	Autism and water	p. 183
	Problems and solutions	p. 183
	Individual example: Katherine	p. 185
	Enjoying water play indoors	p. 186
	Bath-time play	p. 187
	Table-top water play	p. 189
	Outdoor water play	p. 191
	Swimming	p. 192
	Television Potential	p. 195
	Television - why?	p. 195
	Common problems and possible solutions	p. 196
	Many uses for the camcorder	p. 200
	Video modelling	p. 202
	Being Creative: Art and Craft	p. 205
	Why art?	p. 205
	The obstacles between art and your child	p. 206
	Gaining attention by being indirect	p. 206
	Getting started	p. 207
	Art ideas	p. 211
	Scissors and glue	p. 214
	Craft	p. 216
	Creating Imaginative Play Sequences	p. 221
	What type of toys?	p. 222
	Simplicity	p. 223
	Realism	p. 223
	Familiarity	p. 224
	The right environment	p. 225
	Getting started	p. 226
	Building scripts	p. 227
	Individual example: Jonathan	p. 228
	Moving on	p. 231
	In summary	p. 231
	More suggestions for play sequences using 'scripts'	p. 233
	I can't draw!	p. 233
	Problems	p. 234
	This seems like so much effort!	p. 235
	Introducing Books and Reading	p. 237
	The problems	p. 237
	Starting out: looking at books together	p. 238
	Individual example: Peter	p. 239
	Individual example: Fay	p. 240
	Ideas	p. 241
	Moving on: reading for meaning	p. 242
	Problems with reading for meaning	p. 243
	Story sequences and consequences	p. 248
	Goals	p. 249
	Observation, timing and preparation	p. 250
	Specific books to try	p. 251
	Popular characters	p. 256
	CD/book packages	p. 257
	Early literacy	p. 258
	Word recognition	p. 259
	Individual example: Lewis	p. 261
	Activities to develop language understanding	p. 262
	Books written especially for children with autism	p. 265
	Finally	p. 265
	Problems, Frustration and Tantrums: Making Play Enjoyable	p. 267
	Deal with your own frustration first!	p. 267
	Reducing stress whilst you play	p. 269
	Flexible parenting for rigid children	p. 273
	Reassessing play skills: the need for goals	p. 276
	Enjoy your child	p. 276
	Resources
	Bibliography	p. 279
	Therapeutic Options/Organizations	p. 281
	Recommended Reading	p. 285
	Websites for Articles Written by Adults with Autism	p. 287
	Toys and Suppliers	p. 289
	Picture Prompts to Copy and Use	p. 295
	Index	p. 299