Product Description

Parents of young children newly diagnozed as on the autism spectrum are often at a loss for ideas about how best to help their child. They feel dismayed and "shut out" by their child and are often also having to grapple with language and behaviour problems. "Playing, Laughing and Learning with Children on the Autism Spectrum" is not just a collection of play ideas; it shows how to break down activities into manageable stages, and it looks at ways to gain a child's attention and motivation and to build on small achievements. The use of case studies illustrates how problems of ritual and obsession can be used and redirected positively and shows how to structure play activities and overcome communication barriers by using picture cards. Each chapter covers a collection of ideas around a theme: music, art, physical activities, playing outdoors, puzzles, turn-taking and using existing toys to create play sequences. There are also chapters on introducing reading and making the most of television. The ideas are useful both for toddlers and primary age children who are still struggling with play.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #319417 in Books
• Published on: 2002-05-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

About the Author
Whilst studying for a degree in psychology, Julia Moor has worked for the past eight years with adults with mild to severe learning disabilities (including autism) both as a carer and facilitator running group art sessions in residential homes. Her son Robin was diagnosed autistic at two He is now five years old, verbal and functioning well in mainstream education.

Customer Reviews

A must for a parent of a child under 5
This was the first book I read when we suspected our child was autistic at the age of 2. By the time we got the diagnosis I had already implemented many of the simple play ideas in the book and was getting results. My son is now 4 and making good progress but I still go back to the book for more help and understanding as he moves forward. Everywhere you will read early intervention is the key, but if you want to make a start on your own while waiting for help, this book is a must. I would especially say its good for the under 5. This book shows that parents can make a differnece in a practical set out book.

Therapy for the child and for the parent
For the parent or carer of an autistic child, play can be a very difficult area. It's often the area in which a child's departure from the "normal" developmental track becomes apparent - toys are not used in the way expected or not used at all, imaginative play fails to develop, and so forth. With "normal" play patterns not pertaining, how do you fill the day; how do you connect with the child; and how do you give them the developmental benefits, the life practice and the skills, that play helps to develop?

This book helps you answer those questions. The play discussed ranges from the very basic - tickle games or rough and tumble - to the more complex, such as helping to model imaginative play for the child. Processes are broken down into small, achievable steps that the child can then combine to get results you might previously have thought were beyond him/her. For imaginative play, for instance, one might devise a short, simple story and put it in book form, then act it out with models, then let the child act it out, then wait to see if they move on to acting out stories of their own invention. It's concrete, it's practical and it works. Perhaps as importantly, it's immensely therapeutic also for a parent of an autistic child: if, over the months and years leading to the diagnosis and subsequently, your child has been turned in your eyes into a medical problem or educational project, this will help you rediscover them as a child and learn again to have fun with them. Buy the book, help the child and feel yourself grow more cheerful as well.

A useful book
Despite its delightful title, I was frightened that this was going to be another "Aren't I a wonderful parent" book. Instead, it is a book with many practical ideas, in particular for parents of children who have just been diagnosed and children who have a functional age below 10. Although my son received his diagnosis 5 years ago now, I found several useful new ideas. All the playing suggestions are well worked through and describe in detail how you can make a sucess of a play situation. It is also very encouraging to learn that you are not a failure if your child walks away after 30 seconds but this is a valid base on which to build. There is also a useful list of suppliers of playing material at the back for readers in the UK and North America. I would recommend this book to all parents who are looking for new play ideas for there autism spectrum child.