Teaching Playskills to Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder: A Practical Guide

Teaching Playskills is a comprehensive manual encompassing the many aspects of play and how they can be incorporated into the lives of children with developmental delays. Written accessibly and intimately, Dr. Smith gives both parents and professionals a concrete look into the dynamic world of play and how it affects and applies to our exceptional children. The guide begins by defining play and delineating methods of developing and teaching playskills. It addresses everything from building toys to games and music, to sensory play as well as imaginative play. The final chapters deal with the important yet challenging aspects of peer interactions and the dynamics of playgroups for preschool and school-aged children. By teaching playskills in a systematic and structured way, children are given the tools to achieve independence and confidence, not just in play but in social situations and solitary leisure.

The progression of playskills is a key element in development. In fostering and encouraging our exceptional children to learn how to play, we are assisting them in their progression toward the mainstream. Teaching Playskills is an invaluable manual for families that are participating in their children’s home or center-based intervention programs and need guidance on how to incorporate age-appropriate playskills into daily living. Part of what makes this particular book so useful is the way in which Dr. Smith delineates how to utilize readily available toys, songs and objects to aid in the process of teaching a child how to play, something that we as adults far from those days find extremely difficult.