How To Play with an Autistic Child (10 Tips)

Wondering how to play with an autistic child? In my private practice and online, I am asked again and again how to play with an autistic child. It can be difficult to to feel as though you are really connecting with a child with autism in play. It can also be challenging to know how to set up play opportunities and whether or not to teach during play (and how to accomplish specific goals). Make sure you download and print out my 10 tips for playing with an autistic child checklist to get the most out of this post! Keep it in your home, classroom or private practice to encourage play.

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What is play?

Any activities that you engage in for enjoyment or recreation, rather than a serious purpose, is considered play. Play includes social play (involving 2+ people) or independent play. (If you are working on building independent play skills, you’ll love these games kids can play alone).

How to play with an autistic child (12 Tips)

In the case of children with autism, the lines between play and work sometimes become blurred. We are so focused on finding and creating teaching opportunities that we sometimes forget to just play with children on the autism spectrum.

Download your FREE 10 tips for playing with an autistic child checklist!

Wondering how to play with an autistic child?

1. Follow your child’s specific interests

It will much easier to encourage your child or students with autism to enjoy play if you follow their particular interests. Little ones on the autism spectrum tend to have favorite objects, toys and even themes of conversation. Use their favorite objects and toys in play. If they are speaking, chat with them about their favorite themes. If your child or students loves trains, invite them to play with Thomas the Tank Engine.

2. Structure play

Provide structure in your play. “Free play” can actually be quite stressful for individuals with autism. It’s better to lay out clear steps for play. Create 3 to 4 simple steps and help your child or student complete each part of the play activity you’ve set out.

3. Have a goal

While the ultimate goal of play is to relax and have fun, having a goal for play makes it even better when playing with a children with autism. Autistic kiddos tend to get lost without structure and having a clear goal that you explain and are working towards during play is reassuring and even more fun for kids on the autism spectrum.

Download your FREE 10 tips for playing with an autistic child checklist!

4. Limit play (time it)

Play needs to be fun. Sometimes “play” can feel more like hard work for children with autism. Increase play time in small increments. Start with 5 minutes and build up in 5 minute increments from there to make sure that you are keeping play fun rather than imposing a difficult experience on your little one and just calling it “play”. (We’ve all been guilty of this!)

Related : Videos for Autistic Toddlers

5. Make it as fun as possible

Do everything in your power to make playtime fun! Afterall, don’t forget that that is what play is all about in the end. Making play fun, will also encourage your little learner to want to come and play with you again next time.

6. Reinforce play

In addition to always making play fun, reinforce play. To reinforce play means to present something positive (an item or activity) after play takes place.

For example, if your child loves watching Blippi You Tube videos, set up a play activity for 15 minutes, followed by watching Blippi videos for 15 minutes. By setting this scenario up in this order, you are connecting the experience of play with a favorite activity (the videos) and making it more likely that your child or student will want to play again.

It is important to remember for something to be a reinforcer, it’s presentation after an activity/behavior means that it increases the probability of the activity/behavior happening again.

Download your FREE 10 tips for playing with an autistic child checklist!

7. Use visual cues

Use visual support to help autistic learners participate in the activity at hand to the best of their ability. I love using an asd visual schedule during play to make it easier for my little learner to get the most out of our play activity. There are so many benefits of visual schedules including increased focus, better connection and easier play.

8. Add a sensory component

The majority of kids on with autism love sensory play! Let’s use that passion to our advantage. Set up some simple autism sensory boxes and let the fun play begin! Of course, not all kids on the autism spectrum love sensory play, if your little learner is just not that into it, don’t fret. Propose something else that your kiddo finds fun.

The goal is to follow their interests to connect with them and engage in play.

9. Use beautiful learning materials

Autistic individuals tend to be highly visual. This means that they notice every detail of the learning materials we use, including colors and shapes. I love to present a collection of curated learning materials for my play sessions that I know will be highly attractive to children on the autism spectrum.

I love using a variety of colors, shapes and patterns to make play more fun.

If you’d like to see the materials I use for play sessions, check out these posts :

Sensory Toys for Kids with Autism
DIY Fidgets
Autism Puzzles (my favorite puzzles for your home program, classroom or therapy practice)

10. Support repetitive and difficult behaviors

A lot of individuals with autism struggle with repetitive and/or difficult behaviors. Depending on severity, these behaviors can create a serious barrier to play. Do your best to understand why these behaviors are occurring and how you can support your little learner’s behaviors while also encouraging play.

Some examples that come to mind from my work and experience? Children who chew on everything can have a hard time playing. Introduce autism chew toys to help support this behavior while encouraging play. If your child or student is struggling to ask for simple things during play and needs support in building communication skills, use a communication binder to make communication easier and more fun.

Download your FREE 10 tips for playing with an autistic child checklist!

More Autism Resources

The Successful Interaction with a Child with Autism Course – learn to better understand your autistic child or students with this complete course.
Autism Activities Workbook Bundle – build communication skills, fine motor skills, sensory play skills and daily living skills, while helping your child or students to successfully manage any difficult behaviors, with these fun, educational, printable activities.
Sensory Communication Workbook – Build communication skills with simple sensory activities.
How to Make a Communication Binder Guide & Workbook – Learn how to create a Communication Binder for your child or student with autism using real photos. Follow my expert guide to learn how to use it to increase communication skills.
Autism Adapted Books Bundle – a collection of 10 adapted books that will help you build communication skills while teaching more than 120 vocabulary words.
Zoo Animals Play Dough Mats Bundle – use these printable play dough mat to work on the names of the animals, build language skills, and increase fine motor strength and precision in a fun, sensory way!