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    Using Games to Promote Peer Interaction

    Topics: About Autism, Infant/Toddler (0-3), Elementary (4-12), Parents, Articles

    Using Games to Promote Peer Interaction

    This resource was created as a supplement for the Language Builder: Academic Readiness Intervention System (ARIS) complete early autism curriculum, Lesson #74, Playing Games with a Peer and Lesson #126, Playing Games with Multiple Peers. Download a free copy of lesson 74 and lesson 126, and learn more about the ARIS curriculum.

     

    We all know how difficult it can be to facilitate healthy interactions between children on the autism spectrum and their typically developing peers. The stereotypic “stimming” behaviors that are often present in children with autism, combined with a lack of appropriate social behaviors, tend to alienate other children and reduce the opportunities for peer interaction. Healthy social relationships are critical for early development, so it is extremely important to build some skills in children with autism that will help them relate to and interact with other children.

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    Teaching basic early childhood games will help create a bridge through which children with autism can relate to their typically developing peers. Games like Bingo and the Memory Game are very popular classroom and home games that kids play. If we break down these games into smaller steps, and teach each step to kids with autism, then we can eventually string the steps together until they have all the skills to play the game.

    Take Bingo for example. Bingo is really just a “receptive labeling” activity. The caller says the word; then, the player looks at their card to find the picture, and puts a marker on the picture. If you spend some time teaching these skills separately, then chain them together, your child will have all of the steps necessary to play Bingo. Then you can bring in a sibling or peer to play along.

    This basic game-playing skill is a great way to start to building healthier peer interactions.picture-bingo-box-with-bingo-cards

    Want more ideas on games to promote peer interaction? Check out our Class Bingo post for more ideas. 

     

    Check out all of Stages' Bingo Games here!

     

    This resource was created as a supplement for the Language Builder: Academic Readiness Intervention System (ARIS) complete early autism curriculum, Lesson #74, Playing Games with a Peer and Lesson #126, Playing Games with Multiple Peers. Download a free copy of lesson 74 and lesson 126, and learn more about the ARIS curriculum.

    Angela Nelson, J.D., Ed.M.

    Written by Angela Nelson, J.D., Ed.M.

    Angela Nelson is the creator of the widely-recognized Language Builder Picture Card Series, and the creator and lead author for the Language Builder ARIS curriculum. Angela received her BA and JD from UCLA where she studied and practiced behavior psychology under Dr. Ivar Lovaas, and her Ed.M. at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, with a focus on technology innovation and education. As Founder and CEO of Stages Learning Materials, Angela has created autism, special needs and early childhood curriculum products since 1997. In addition to her duties at Stages, Angela writes for multiple industry publications and is Chair of the Education Market Association.