It has been widely known that autistic kids play and learn differently than neurotypical (NT) kids (children with typical neurological development or functioning). NT kids will develop different types of play such as symbolic play. Symbolic play is a type of play to describe how children will use objects to represent another object or idea. For example, a child might use a tree branch as a magic wand or ride a broom as a horse. NT kids will begin to engage in symbolic play between 18 – 24 months of age (Gonzalez-Sala et al, 2021).
Autistic Kids Play
On the other hand, autistic kids will engage in different types of play before symbolic play; it doesn’t have to be linear! Both developments are okay because kids will develop at their own pace. Generally, autistic kids will often engage in repetitive play which can be impacted by their cognition/ideation, language, and interests (Gonzalez-Sala et al., 2021). They will often have difficulty with pretend play as they usually just view the world for what it is and need help with building on their ideas.
What if your child does not play with toys?
If your child is not playing with toys, it is possible that they don’t know how to play with it or aren’t sure what the toy represents. As parents/caregivers, it is important to provide new experiences and perspectives to help your child understand how they can engage with the world. Using a strengths-based approach, you should consider their levels of interest and follow their ideas during playtime. Children will draw from their past experiences, so you can expand on their ideas or incorporate their interests. We have listed some suggestions that can help you engage your child in play!
Play Suggestions
- Set the stage of the play environment: Autistic kids can be over-responsive to auditory and visual stimulation which makes it difficult for them to focus on play. It is important to create a space that is optimal for the child to explore and self discover. During summer, your family may be traveling and can prepare road trip friendly tools.
- Let them lead: Observe and follow how they are playing with toys. If they get stuck, you can ask them “what do we do next?”. Just a reminder that children have a very short attention span, so even 1-2 minutes of engagement is successful!
- Sensory Based Toys: Introduce a variety of toys to see if they gravitate towards a specific sensory based toy. Present them in small quantities such as 1 or 2 novel toys at a time. It is OK if they don’t like a particular toy. This will just help you understand what their interests are!
- Examples:
- Tactile toys: felt toys, magnetic tiles, sensory boxes
- Vestibular toys: hopper ball, trampoline
- Proprioceptive toys: couch cushions, crash pads, play doh
- Oral motor toy: whistles, blowing bubbles
- For more toy ideas, check out The Holiday Guide to ENGAGING Toys for Special Needs or learn more about creating sensory based lifestyles.
- Examples:
- Weaving emotions into play: Make it dramatic when you are playing with them! Use positive affect coupled with sounds. For example, if your child is interested in cars, “Vvvrooom!” as you push a wooden toy along the floors to represent cars.
- Body awareness: Encourage the use of integrating different body parts or body positioning through a variety of toy play! Play laying down, standing up, or tummy time and include their hands/feet. For example: water play in the bathtub or make it bigger by throwing a water day in the yard!
We hope these play suggestions help. Have you tried one? We’d love to know!
Reference:
González-Sala, F., Gómez-Marí, I., Tárraga-Mínguez, R., Vicente-Carvajal, A., & Pastor-Cerezuela, G. (2021). Symbolic Play among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review. Children, 8(9), 801. https://doi.org/10.3390/children8090801
Relevant Articles:
http://twopeasinthepines.com/my-toddler-doesnt-want-to-sit-and-play-with-toys/
https://asensorylife.com/toy-selection-for-a-sensory-kid.html
https://raisingchildren.net.au/autism/school-play-work/play-learning/play-asd
https://learnplaythrive.com/nurture-the-love-of-learning-with-a-strengths-based-approach-to-autism-interventions/
