February 1 2015

Class: EAP 1640C

Prof: Michael Newman
Elizabeth Contreras

FUN ACTIVITIES FOR CHILD WITH AUTISM

Autism is a complex developmental disability that

typically appears during the first three years of life. This is a result
of the neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the
brain. It impairs communication social skills, cognitive
development, based on these difficulties have been work up a
bridge between a child with autism and his environment and the
people in it .There many activities that can increase social skills
while strengthening the bond between the child and those around
him. Since each child is unique, is it good idea to have a variety of
plans to introduce and keep the child focused.
Activities for children from birth to three years of age:
child maintain an object in hand, easily then a pencil.
Sing lots and lots!: Children often like the singsong nature of
poems or the repetition of verses in a song. You can make up
songs to teach children how to dress or feed themselves, or
use a favorite song as a reward after a child does a less
desirable fun activity. You can also incorporate physical
activities into songs, like jumping, skipping or hopping.
Activities for children from four years to 7 years of age

I spy: This activity helps a child focus on a description or follow a

point to find an object. Describe the object in as much detail as
you can, then have the child point to it in the room. For children
with more severe processing issues, you can describe one of two
objects and have the child choose the correct one.
Guessing game: Have the child close his eyes and hand him a
simple object or toy, like a block or a cup. Tell him to feel the
object and have him describe it to you (if he is verbal). If the child
is non-verbal, have him show you a picture of the object after he
opens his eyes. This game helps children use senses other than
vision to learn about the world around them.
Draw my face: Have a child draw a large circle on a piece of
paper. You can demonstrate a variety of emotions through your
facial expressions. Have the child draw the face you are making
and assist her in labeling the emotions, like happy, sad, or angry.
Dance party: Put on your favorite music and have an impromptu.
This is a great way for children to learn about rhythm, counting,
and develop physical coordination. It also helps with sensory
integration, since movement can provide necessary stimulation.
Puppet show: Make sock puppets or use the child's dolls and come
up with a fun theme to act out. By having a puppet show, you can
teach emotions and social skills through role play. This is a great
activity to do before a major life event such as moving or starting
school. It helps children understand how situations play out before
they happen so they know what to expect.
While the causes of autism remain a mystery and the spectrum of
severity quite large, one fact es clear: Autism Spectrum disorder
affect every area of learning, from social and emotional awareness
to the ability to process language and sensory experiences and
integrate with ones own environment. As a result of the disability
there activities that help to child to develop skills such as explore
color, shapes, and sensory experiences can stimulate attention, in

addition, how to express their emotions and interact with other

children.