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

About the Book

Praise for the first edition:

`An approachable and practical edition that will be welcomed by parents and carers alike. I know how hard it can be to find 'How to' resources for parents. Well here is a gem.'

- Children, Young People and Families

Parents of young children newly diagnosed as on the autism spectrum are often at a loss for ideas about how best to help their child. 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 looks at ways to gain a child's attention and motivation and to build on small achievements.

Each chapter covers a collection of ideas around a theme, including 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. This updated second edition contains an extensive chapter on how to use the computer, the internet and the digital camera to find and make resources and activities, and suggests many suitable websites to help parents through the internet maze. The ideas are useful both for toddlers and primary age children who are still struggling with play.

Table of Contents:
Introduction. 1. Why is Playing So Important? 2. Early Playing Skills: Gaining Attention and Sharing Space. 3. Structured Play. 4. Your Computer as a Valuable Resource. 5. Toys, Toys, Toys. 6. Table-top Games and Puzzles. 7. Music. 8. Turn-taking in Play. 9. Physical games and activities. 10. Outdoor play. 11. Water play. 12. Television potential. 13. Being Creative - Art and Craft. 14. Creating Imaginative Play Sequences. 15. Introducing Books and Reading. 16. Problems, Frustrations, Tantrums - Making Play Enjoyable. Bibliography. Therapeutic Options/Organisations. Recommended Reading. Websites for Articles Written by Adults With Autism. Toys and Suppliers. Picture Prompts to Copy and Use. Index.

About the Author :
Julia Moor has been working as a teacher with adults with learning disabilities for 18 years, delivering creativity, communication, life skills and intensive interaction courses at day services and educational settings. She has also worked as a trainer for autism awareness and has a son on the autism spectrum. Julia is the author of Playing, Laughing and Learning with Children on the Autism Spectrum: A Practical Resource of Play Ideas for Parents and Carers, also published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. She lives in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

Review :
The book is well-organised and easy to navigate... The book is very practical and parents and others can dip in and out of the book selecting chapters most appropriate to their needs... materials recommended are easy to make, and/or are inexpensive to buy and there is also a list of useful web resources. Many parents of children with ASD will find this book useful as they look for ways to engage and interact with their child... Educational psychologists can confidently recommend t to parents of young children with ASD and staff who work in early years services. This is a practical resource of play ideas for parents of children with an autism spectrum disorder... Comprehensive book of play ideas... The range of ideas is underpinned by a healthy balance of research-based interventions and therapies, thus presenting an eclectic approach to play. As a consequence, both the relevance and effectiveness of these ideas are likely to stand the test of time... It would be hard to imagine any reader failing to find some positive information from among the many ideas presented... While primarily directed at parents and carers, the relevance of this book applies equally to a much broader readership Indeed, this book would by a valuable addition to the bookshelf of any early years practitioner, play worker, teacher or teaching assistant within the primary phase of education. Parents of young children newly diagnosed on the autism spectrum are often at a loss for ideas about how best to help their child. This book is not just a collection of play ideas; it shows how to break down activities into manageable stages, and looks at ways to gain a child's attention and motivation and to build on small achievements. It's a good read, a good book and an excellent resource for parents, carers and professionals who wish to engage the often disengaged and the disempowered. Moor, a sensory art and communications tutor, offers this guide to parents of autistic children on how to create and manage playtimes effectively. The author provides a wealth of ideas that will appeal to the autistic child, including puzzles, music, art and even role-playing. This guide, which is now in its second edition, has been expanded to include new ideas on how to engage an autistic child with technologies such as the Internet and digital cameras. This book should be on the shelf of every parent or carer of a toddler or primary aged child with an autistic spectrum diagnosis. This book is a helpful resource for parents and carers of newly diagnosed young people on the autistic spectrum. The author is a parent of a child with autism and has 13 years of first- hand experience of working with people with learning difficulties. This creates a very personal and factual resource, and gives the reader confidence in the book's information. Julia Moor's updated version of this book is an excellent resource for parents and carers, with the potential to be of use to nursery and primary school staff. Primarily written for parents and carers, it is an easy to read, practical collection of resources that can be used to facilitate play activities with a child who has autism, in a way that is rewarding for both parents and the child. Highly recommended. Playing, Laughing and Learning with Children on the Autism Spectrum is more than just a book about how to play with such a child: it shows how to break down activities into manageable stages, gain a child's attention, and build on play-oriented achievements for broader impact. Any parent with an autistic child will find a winning guide, as will educators working with special education kids. This book is for parents of young children diagnosed as on the autism spectrum. Beyond being a collection of play ideas, this book shows how to break down activitiies into manageable stages, and looks at ways to gain a child's attention and motivation and to build on small achievements. Parents of young children newly diagnosed as on the autism spectrum are often at a loss for ideas about how best to help their child. Playing, Laughing and Learning with Children on the Austism Spectrum is not just a collection of play ideas; it shows how to break down activities into manageable stages, and looks at ways to gain a child's attention and motivation and to build on small achievement. Moor's book is well stocked throughout with simple and easy to use ideas and strategies. She includes specific activities and play-scenarios, and, where possible, suggests how these ideas might be modified or expanded. Her writing style is easy to read and the chapters are well structures, perfectly suited for her desired audience of parents and caregivers.