6 puzzles that every autism playroom should have! Puzzles are a valuable learning tool for autistic learners whether you are wanting to teach communication, receptive language, pointing, fine motor, imitation or interaction skills, or all of these skills combined.
Make sure that you have these puzzles in your autism playroom
At my learning center in Paris, I use puzzles in my sessions and in the classroom on a regular basis to teach a wide variety of skills. If you have built an autism playroom for your child, then you will need to make sure that you have a selection of puzzles to teach your child too. This also goes for an autism classroom.
Use puzzles with your child with autism to
- Build fine motor skills.
- Build communication skills.
- Build vocabulary.
- Teach animal sounds.
- Teach tranpsortation sounds.
- Ask “what” questions. (“What is this?” “cow!”, “sheep”, “train”, etc.).
- Explore new textures and provide sensory input.
- Teach numbers.
- Teach colors.
- Teach letter recognition.
- Teach beginning reading skills.
- Teach beginning writing skills.
How to use puzzles as autism toys
Farm animals puzzle
I use this farm animals puzzles on the regular at my learning center for naming the farm animals, providing sensory input, working on animal sounds and building fine motor skills.
Buy this wooden Melissa & Doug farm animals sound puzzle on Amazon
Transportation puzzle
This puzzle makes realistic transportation sounds which makes it a lot of fun and naturally reinforcing to play with. I use it to teach sounds and new vocabulary and to build fine motor skills with children with autism.
Buy this wooden Melissa & Doug transportation sound puzzle on Amazon
Alphabet puzzle
Every autism playroom needs a wooden alphabet puzzle. An alphabet puzzle is essential for working on letter recognition and beginning spelling and reading skills.
Buy this wooden Melissa & Doug See-Inside ABC Large Wooden Puzzle on Amazon
Letters puzzle
Every autism playroom also needs a wooden numbers puzzle. You can use it to teach numbers and colors.
Babe Rock Numbers Wooden Puzzle on Amazon
Musical puzzle
I love Melissa & Doug products – in case you can’t tell! Their puzzles are well made and last a long time. I absolutely love this musical puzzle. The sounds are realistic and naturally reinforcing for kids with autism. You can build new vocabulary skills and even discuss different types of music and instruments if your child is speaking.
Buy this Melissa & Doug wooden sound instruments puzzle on Amazon
Next steps : several pieces animal puzzles
The next step after working with one piece puzzles is to begin building figures using two or more pieces. If your child is just progressing to the next level now, this is a great puzzle to use. Just two to five pieces to build several different animals!
Buy this chunky wooden pets puzzle on Amazon
Puzzles are fantastic toys for preschoolers with autism, as well as individuals with autism of all ages that are building communication, receptive language, pointing, fine motor, imitation or interaction skills, or all of these skills combined.
I love these 6 puzzles that every autism playroom should have!
Do you have another type of puzzle to add to the list?
Pin this post for later!
Want to learn more about using puzzles to teach your child with autism? Take a look at these posts!
Teaching Children with Autism Using Puzzles
Material You Need to Start Your Home Program
20 Reasons to Use Social Stories to Teach Children with Autism
Gifts for Kids with Autism : The Ultimate Guide (Gifts from $5 – $100)
Learn to create a Progress Nook for your child at home in 7 days
Receive 7 emails - 1 email each day - for FREE that will teach you exactly what to do, then receive emails once per week with fun learning activities for your child
[…] 6 Puzzles that Every Autism Playroom Should Have […]