true Play-based intervention for autistic kids
We know there are many benefits to play-based therapy. This is true for autistic children as well. Play is an enjoyable and preferred mode of learning that is correlated to speech and communication development. But, for kids with autism, ‘play’ isn’t always so simple. Many interventions teach autistic kids to imitate neurotypical play while discouraging their own play. And if an autistic child is focused on mimicking his/her peers’ play, that isn’t truly ‘play’.
Gibson et al (2021) said “From an autistic perspective, play [can be] an escape that helps manage anxiety and promote communication and friendships with people with similar interests.”
So, if we know that play can be an escape for autistic people, how can we make therapy more focused on true play and not imitating how neurotypical children play?
Research has shown that play-based interventions for autistic kids needs to be child-lead. This means there is intrinsic motivation-meaning a child is playing with something because they want to, not because there’s a carrot dangling in front of them to encourage the play. There also needs to be free imagination, the ability to escape reality in whatever way a child chooses. The child also needs to be in control, meaning they get to dictate how their play goes.
This means that certain approaches such as discrete trial training is not truly play-based, even if a child gets to play with toys as a reward. That isn’t true play therapy because the child isn’t leading it, choosing it, or in control.
As therapists (and parents), we can change our focus from forcing autistic children to engage in neurotypical play to enhancing their natural forms of play in ways that are engaging and intrinsically rewarding. This can look like following a child’s lead in pretend play, imitating their actions when they play with a toy they have chosen (even if it isn’t how you think it ‘should’ be played with), and not trying to re-direct them to toys you’d like them to use. As we follow their lead and support their play, we can facilitate natural and meaningful communication.
Sources:
Watson, Liz (2023). Are your play-based interventions actually play-based? https://www.theinformedslp.com/review/are-your-play-based-interventions-actually-play-based
