How to Teach Children With Autism Constructive Play

More and more children are diagnosed with the spectrum disorder of autism every day. As parents cope with their child's disorder, they also have to find ways to coax their child out of that inner world. One of those ways is through constructive play.

Instructions

• 1

  Follow your child's lead. Choose toys that you know your child will get excited about, such as building toys (Legos or Tinkertoys) or popular characters that they can identify with (Dora the Explorer).

• 2

  Engage your child in short-term periods of play. Ask open-ended questions. Try to stimulate some conversation and practice turn-taking with simple puzzles or board games.

• 3

  Place all the items for one activity in one basket. Have your child place the completed project in the basket to signal an end to the activity.

• 4

  Invite a typical peer over to play to help the child with autism learn about turn-taking. Instruct the typical child to be patient and expect the play experience to be short.

• 5

  Create art with your child. Provide a variety of materials depending on their tactile needs, including watercolor paints or finger paints, crayons or markers, or Play-Doh or Sculpey.

• 6

  Place constructive play items in low, open shelves organized by type of play.

• 7

  Have fun. Spend time with your child and enjoy him. While constructive play can be a learning experience, the point of play is to have fun. Draw the child out with a combination of repeated play experiences.