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A research handout that I wrote my junior year of college. This handout is research-based and has general teaching strategies and tips that would helpful for any classroom.

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Why Everyone Benefits From Including Students With Autism in Literacy Classrooms

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Why Everyone Benefits From Including Students With Autism in Literacy Classrooms

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This article is one of the resources that I found to be most helpful. It opened my eyes to the possibilities of how beneficial it could be to have students with autism in my classroom. Not only would the strategies used to help those students be helpful to any student in the classroom but those students could teach me the teacher so much more than I thought. This article also gives specific suggestions which I found to be really helpful in thinking and planning through literacy instruction.

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Autism spectrum disorders in adolescence and early adulthood: Characteristics and issues

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Autism spectrum disorders in adolescence and early adulthood: Characteristics and issues

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If you want an overview as well as specifics and characteristics of students with autism this resource will be helpful for you. Case study examples are also included which are beneficial in looking at the differences and similarities that may be important in knowing how best to meet the needs and teach those students.

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Beyond Sight Words: Literacy Opportunities for Students with Autism

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Beyond Sight Words: Literacy Opportunities for Students with Autism

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From the book "The Reading Teacher: Multiple Perspectives About Reading" published by the International Reading Association this resource informs about the strategies to implement that are actually beneficial and will add to the classroom as well as those that won't. Noting differences between students with autism are more common than similarities this resource helps to bridge that gap and informs how to teach all students.

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Teaching students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: What are the needs of educational professionals?

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Teaching students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: What are the needs of educational professionals?

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I found this helpful to read through because it highlights the lack of confidence educators have in teaching students with autism and some of the reasons why it is so important for professionals in education to know how to support these students.

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ScienceDirect.com | Science, health and medical journals, full text articles and books.

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ScienceDirect is the world's leading source for scientific, technical, and medical research. Explore journals, books and articles.

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This website lists the books as well as descriptions of each and the ages each of the books are appropriate for.

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Reading is paramount to structural and functional brain development in children and young adults.[1]Being able to relate to the point of view or the experiences of the main character in a book increases willingness for reading. As autistic children generally struggle more with reading than their non-ASD counterparts, finding relatable content is important. [3] The following 16 children's books about autism offer perspectives from, and stories about, autistic individuals and family members. They cover everything from explaining what autism is and how to manage emotions to heartfelt novels about friendships and personal achievement.

The Boy With Big, Big Emotions

Beaming Books (2019)
Ages 4-8
This book explains what it's like for one boy to have deep emotions and how he discovers he's not the only one. Although the boy is not explicitly autistic, the book is relatable for any child with sensory processing differences or anxiety.
Written by Britney Winn Lee

Fairdale Publishing (2005)
Ages 4+
Danny is a boy with Asperger's who humorously describes the good and bad of being him. Great for the entire family.
Written by Angela Wine
3. Tacos Anyone? ¿Alguien Quiere Tacos?

Speech Kids Texas Press Inc. (2005)
Ages 4-7
This is a bilingual book about brothers. Michael is autistic and Thomas has difficulty playing with him until a therapist helps him understand what it's like to be Michael.
Written by Marvie Ellis
4. Why Does Izzy Cover Her Ears?

Autism Asperger Publishing Company (2009)
Ages 4 - 8
Izzy takes you through her life as she learns to cope with sensory overload in new places and promotes the normalization of peers who struggle with sensory overload.
Written by Jennifer Veenendall

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (2012)
Ages 5-8
A colorful and easily understandable conversation between a boy and his grandmother about what autism is.
Written by Ymkje Wideman-van Der Laan
6. All My Stripes: A Story for Children with Autism

Magination Press (2015)
Ages 5 - 10
Zane the Zebra feels different from the rest of his peers because of his "autism stripe." His mother teaches him to love and appreciate all of his stripes because they make him who he is.
Written by Shaina Rudolph & Danielle Royer
7. The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin

The Innovation Press (2017)
Ages 6+
This book documents the life of Dr. Temple Grandin, a renowned scientist with ASD. Her story serves as an inspiration and comfort to millions of ASD individuals across the globe. The author melodically carries you through Grandin's life to show how powerful different voices can be in this world.
Written by Julia Finley Mosca

Scholastic (2010)
Ages 7-10
This book delivers a heart-warming description of what life is like with a sibling who has autism. Beautifully simple and relatable.
Written by Holly Robinson Peete & Ryan Elizabeth Peete
9. How to Be Human: Diary of an Autistic Girl

Creston Books (2013)
Ages 7-12
Florida, an ASD teen, shares her memoir. In it she details how to navigate the almost alien world of teenagers. She takes you through her learning processes with social cues, facial expressions, and peer pressure, among other things. This is a relatable guidebook for any autistic pre-teen.
Written by Florida Frenz
10. Can I Tell You about Asperger Syndrome?

Jessica Kingsley Publishers (2003)
Ages 7-15
Adam is a young boy with ASD. He uses stories and illustration to teach what ASD is, what it's like to live with ASD, and how to help your peers with ASD by celebrating their differences and understanding their actions.
Written by Jude Welton
11. Different Like Me: My Book of Autism Heroes

Jessica Kingsley Publishers (2005)
Ages 8-12
This book looks at history through the lense of ASD. It gives short bios about iconic historical figures who found it difficult to fit in and who may have been on the spectrum.
Written by Jennifer Elder

12. The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism

Random House Trade Reprint Edition (2016)
Ages 8+
This is a brilliant peek into the mind of a nonverbal thirteen-year-old boy with ASD. A book that would benefit, 'everybody who is working with nonverbal individuals with autism...', according to Dr. Temple Grandin. It is undeniably sweet and uncomfortably honest.
Written by Naoki Higashida

Yearling (2020)
Ages 8-12
Nova is an intelligent twelve year old girl with autism. She tells about her love for astronomy and how her sister's promise to watch the space shuttle launch helps her to function on her own. It is a tender story that tells about life as a foster child on the spectrum.
Written by Nicole Panteleakos

14. How to Look for a Lost Dog

Ages 9+
Usborne Publishing Ltd (2016)
Written by Ann M. Martin
This is a novel about 11-year-old Rose who has ASD. She struggles to understand her peers. So, to help her out her father let's her take in a stray dog. But when the dog goes missing, Rose doesn't stop searching... A heart-warming and human story. Good for all ages.

Ages 10 - 12
Puffin Books (2011)
Written by Kathryn Erskine
As a National Book Award Winner, this book gives a poignant description of Caitlin's world. She has Asperger's and always relied on her brother, Devon, to help her navigate the world. When Devon falls victim to a middle school shooting and her father is overtaken in grief, Caitlin has to figure out how to keep going. It's a beautiful story of resilience told from the perspective of a young girl with ASD. "One of the most important novels of our time for young readers."

16. The Asperkid's (Secret) Book of Social Rules: The Handbook of Not-So-Obvious Social Guidelines for Tweens and Teens with Asperger Syndrome

Ages 10-17
Jessica Kingsley Publishers (2012)

A "secret" guide to social rules of life that may seem strange or confusing to children with ASD.

[1] Neuroreport, 25(5), pages 347-352 (2014)

[2] Annual Review of Neuroscience, 30, pages 475-503 (2007)

[3] Journal of Autism and Development Disorders, 36, 911 (2016)

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16 Children's Books About Autism - Autism Resources

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Reading is paramount to structural and functional brain development in children and young adults.[1],[2] Being able to relate to the point of view or the experiences of the main character in a book increases willingness for reading. As autistic children generally struggle more with reading than their non-ASD counterparts, finding relatable content is important.

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17 Children's Books That Promote Understanding Of Autism

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17 Children's Books That Promote Understanding Of Autism

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This resource lists the books and short descriptions of each.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 1 in 59 children in the U.S. has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Yet despite improvements, people with autism are still relatively underrepresented in the realm of film, TV and literature.

In honor of Autism Awareness Month, we compiled a list of children's books that feature characters on the spectrum and tackle issues related to autism.

While some speak from the perspective of a child with autism, others show the perspective of a neurotypical sibling or friend. All promote understanding and acceptance for kids on the spectrum.

This story has been updated to include the CDC's new statistics about the prevalence of autism.

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17 Children's Books That Promote Understanding Of Autism

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 1 in 59 children in the U.S. has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Yet despite improvements, people with autism are still relatively underrepresented in the realm of film, TV and literature.

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30 Best Children's Books About the Autism Spectrum

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30 Best Children's Books About the Autism Spectrum

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Lists the books, descriptions of each, and the appropriate ages of each book. It also has some helpful resources on information about the autism spectrum on other pages of the website.

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Applied Behavior Analysis Programs Guide

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One of the most wonderful things about a book is its ability to reveal to us a little piece of ourselves. When we can relate to a story or a character, we are left with a better understanding of who we are and what our purpose may be.

Related: 15 Best Applied Behavior Analysis Online Programs

This might be most true for children on the autism spectrum. Because things like relating to others, understanding emotions, and making and keeping friends are common challenges faced by children with autism, reading about autistic characters can often act as an outlet and a learning tool to discovering one's own place in the world.

While some of these books are written specifically for children on the autism spectrum, others are aimed towards siblings and friends. Regardless of the specific audience, each of these 30 best children's books about the autism spectrum provide a level of comfort and understanding that can only be achieved through a good story.

All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2006)

Kathy Hoopmann

All My Stripes: A Story for Children with Autism (Magination Press, 2015)

Shaina Rudolph and Danielle Royer

Andy and His Yellow Frisbee (Woodbine House, 1996)

Mary Thompson

The Asperger Children's Toolkit (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2012)

Francis Musgrave

The Asperkid's (Secret) Book of Social Rules: The Handbook of Not-so-Obvious Social Guidelines for Tweens and Teens with Asperger Syndrome (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2012)

Jennifer Cook O'Toole

The Autism Acceptance Book (Pathway Book Service, 2006)

Ellen Sabin

Autism Is...? (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2012)

Ymkje Wideman-van der Laan

Autism, the Invisible Cord: A Sibling's Diary (Magination Press, 2012)

Barbara Cain

Can I Tell You About Asperger's Syndrome? (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2003)

Jude Welton

The Categorical Universe of Candice Phee (Chronicle Books; Reprint edition, 2015)

Barry Jonsberg

Different Like Me: My Book of Autism Heroes (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2005)

Jennifer Elder

Everybody is Different (Autism Asperger Publishing Company, 2002)

Fiona Bleach

A Friend Like Simon (Special Stories Publishing, 2009)

Kate Gaynor

Hello Roar, Little Dinosaur (Learning Development Aids, 2012)

Hazel Reeves

How to Be Human: Diary of an Autistic Girl (Creston Books, 2013)

Florida Frenz

How to Talk to an Autistic Kid (Free Spirit Publishing, 2011)

Daniel Stefanski (an autistic kid)

Ian's Walk: A Story about Autism (Albert Whitman & Company; Reprint edition, 1998)

Laurie Lears

Leah's Voice (Halo Publishing International, 2012)

Lori DeMonia

Looking after Louis (Albert Whitman & Company, 2004)

Lesley Ely

My Brother Charlie (Scholastic Press, 2010)

Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete

My Friend with Autism (Future Horizons, 2011)

Beverly Bishop

Noah Chases the Wind (Redleaf Lane, 2015)

Michelle Worthington

Ages 3-8
"Noah Chases the Wind" is a beautiful illustrated book about a very curious young boy with autism. Noah loves science, and is full of questions - until he finds one that his books can't answer. "Noah Chases the Wind" has been received a number of awards, including the silver medal in the Moonbeam Children's Books Award and the Gelett Burgess Children's Book Award.
ISBN-10: 160554356X
ISBN-13: 978-1605543567

The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year Old Boy with Autism (Random House Trade Paperbacks; Reprint edition, 2016)

Naoki Higashida

Rules (Scholastic Press, 2006)

Cynthia Lord

Also Available in Paperback (2008)
ISBN-10: 0439443830
ISBN-13: 978-0439443838

Since We're Friends: An Autism Picture Book (Sky Pony Press, 2012)

Celeste Shally and David Harrington

The Survival Guide for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders (and Their Parents) (Free Spirit Publishing, 2012)

Elizabeth Verdick and Elizabeth Reeve, M.D.

Tacos Anyone? / ¿Alguien quiere tacos? (Speech Kids Texas Press, Inc., 2005)

Marvie Ellis

Understanding Samantha: A Sibling's Perspective of Autism (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013)

Dustin Daniels

What it is to Be Me! (Fairdale Publishing, 2005)

Angela Wine

Why Does Izzy Cover Her Ears? (Autism Asperger Publishing Company, 2009)

Jennifer Veenendall

More for Parents and Families:

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30 Best Children's Books About the Autism Spectrum

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While some of these books are written specifically for children on the autism spectrum, others are aimed towards siblings and friends. Either way, each of these 30 best children's books about the autism spectrum provide a level of comfort and understanding that can only be achieved through a good story.

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10 Helpful Books for Autistic Tweens and Teens

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10 Helpful Books for Autistic Tweens and Teens

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This list, "10 Helpful Books for Autistic Tweens and Teens", is made up of our top picks of inspiring, or useful books that help open up dialogue about important topics for autistic kids age 10-19.

Aimed at young teens, this resource tackles the issues that girls this age care about: fitting in, making friends, wearing the right clothes, succeeding academically and more. The book's "for teens, by teens" approach makes it an easy, fun read while giving readers practical tips that they can use in their everyday lives.

Dating is difficult for everyone, but it can be especially overwhelming tor teens with high-functioning autism, who struggle with social issues. Written in a question-and-answer format, this much-needed resource offers insight into and practical advice on dating challenges. Special education teacher, Jeannie Uhlenkamp, tackles some of the specific issues facing teens in a logical progression, from how to know if someone likes you and how to ask someone out, to actually dating someone and breaking up. Each topic in The Guide to Dating for Teenagers With Asperger Syndrome is followed by discussion questions (to get conversation flowing between teens and parents/teachers) and a main idea (to succinctly wrap up the main point).

Being a teenager is an experience simultaneously shared by teens and their parents. In Asperger Download A Guide to Help Teenage Males With Asperger Syndrome Trouble-Shoot Life's Challenges, Damian Santomauro and his mother, Josie, share the hidden curriculum of being a male teenager - unwritten social rules are spelled out. Damian was diagnosed with ASD at the age of 5. Now as a college graduate with a PhD, he shares his experiences with teens who are experiencing what he lived through. Appropriate for teenage males ages 11-16.
National Parenting Publications Award Winner!
Asperger Syndrome: An Owner's Manual is an interactive workbook designed for young people grades 5 through 8 for use with guidance from a helping teacher or parent. Written for adolescents, Asperger Syndrome: An Owner's Manual describes high-functioning autism and how it can affect daily life. With the help of an adult, the child completes a series of activities related to learning style, sensory issues, emotions, relationships, and more, culminating in a written plan for each major area of his life.

The one-of-a-kind resource outlines the unstated rules that guide relationships in an online environment. The authors address Internet safety, romantic relationships, online vs. in-person interactions and more, with a particular focus on adolescents and young adults with communication and social skills challenges.

Expect a Miracle: Understanding and Living With Autism is powerful and motivating. This story inspires you to do whatever you can to live the life you want- no matter what others expect or think. Told from the unique separate viewpoints of a young man with high-functioning autism (David), and his mother (Sandy), you will be pulled into this story and filled with admiration and respect for both individuals.

Part memoir, part inspirational guide, Population One: Autism, Adversity, and the Will to Succeed is a groundbreaking book that offers readers the ability to see life through the eyes of a young man with autism. Written by Tyler McNamer at the age of 17, Tyler not only details his challenges, but he also offers hope and encouragement to others who face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Whether you're an educator, a family member of someone with autism, or simply looking for inspiration, you'll appreciate the opportunity to step inside this remarkable young man's mind. As Tyler explains, I've been called a retard, dumb, and disabled. I've been bullied, picked on, and made fun of. They put me in special classes and told me that I should not expect to reach my goals. Yet rather than view his diagnosis negatively, Tyler considers his unique viewpoint a gift. It is with this perspective that he wrote Population One: Autism, Adversity, and the Will to Succeed.

An honest approach for teaching about personal boundaries and potential legal consequences of unacceptable behaviors. Building on the 5-point scale, Kari has written a workbook for adolescents and young adults called A 5 Is Against the Law! The book takes a narrower look at challenging behavior with a particular focus on behaviors that can spell trouble for youth who have difficulty understanding and maintaining social boundaries.

Detective agencies come in many shapes and forms, but never before has there been a one-man social detective agency! Johnny Multony, transformed from "not fitting in" to a socially savvy kid, starts the first-ever social detective agency. He is then hired by other students in his school for help with common interpersonal dilemmas, such as cliques, dealing with disappointments, bullying, personal space, friends, body language, and much more. Diary of a Social Detective: Real-Life Tales of Mystery, Intrigue and Interpersonal Adventure teaches children and adolescents how to be social detectives in their own lives.

Many parents are not sure of what to say and do to help their children improve their social interactions. This book helps open the door of communication between parent and child by addressing 100 social rules for home, school, and the community. Using simple, easy-to-follow rules covering topics such as body language, manners, feelings and more, Social Rules for Kids aims to make students' lives easier and more successful by outlining specific ways to interact with others on a daily basis.

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10 Helpful Books for Autistic Tweens and Teens

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This list, "10 Helpful Books for Autistic Tweens and Teens", is made up of our top picks of inspiring, or useful books that help open up dialogue about important topics for autistic kids age 10-19.

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I like that this website lists books that are biographies and autobiographies of people that have autism and have wanted to share who they are and what we can learn through their story.

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We asked our followers on Instagram what books about autism they would recommend to others and below are their answers. All book descriptions are from Amazon.com. If you shop on Amazon, you can select Autism Speaks as your charity of choice and Amazon will donate as you shop via their Amazon Smile program!

The Reason I Jump - You've never read a book like The Reason I Jump. Written by Naoki Higashida, a very smart, very self-aware, and very charming thirteen-year-old boy with autism, it is a one-of-a-kind memoir that demonstrates how an autistic mind thinks, feels, perceives, and responds in ways few of us can imagine.

Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism - Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is a gifted animal scientist who has designed one third of all the livestock-handling facilities in the United States. She also lectures widely on autism-because Temple Grandin is autistic, a woman who thinks, feels, and experiences the world in ways that are incomprehensible to the rest of us.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow.
This improbable story of Christopher's quest to investigate the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog makes for one of the most captivating, unusual, and widely heralded novels in recent years.

In a Different Key: The Story of Autism - Nearly seventy-five years ago, Donald Triplett of Forest, Mississippi, became the first child diagnosed with autism. Beginning with his family's odyssey, In a Different Key tells the extraordinary story of this often misunderstood condition, and of the civil rights battles waged by the families of those who have it.

Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism - Autism therapy typically focuses on ridding individuals of "autistic" symptoms such as difficulties interacting socially, problems in communicating, sensory challenges, and repetitive behavior patterns. Now Dr. Barry M. Prizant offers a new and compelling paradigm: the most successful approaches to autism don't aim at fixing a person by eliminating symptoms, but rather seeking to understand the individual's experience and what underlies the behavior.

Life, Animated: A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes, and Autism - Imagine being trapped inside a Disney movie and having to learn about life mostly from animated characters dancing across a screen of color. A fantasy? A nightmare? This is the real-life story of Owen Suskind, the son of the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ron Suskind and his wife, Cornelia. An autistic boy who couldn't speak for years, Owen memorized dozens of Disney movies, turned them into a language to express love and loss, kinship, brotherhood.

An Early Start for Your Child with Autism - Cutting-edge research reveals that parents can play a huge role in helping toddlers and preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) connect with others and live up to their potential. This encouraging guide from the developers of a groundbreaking early intervention program provides doable, practical strategies you can use every day.

Atypical: Life with Asperger's in 20 1/3 Chapters - Diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a mild form of autism, Jesse Saperstein has struggled since childhood with many of the hallmark challenges of his condition-from social awkwardness and self-doubt to extreme difficulty with change and managing his emotions.

House Rules: A Novel - When your son can't look you in the eye . . . does that mean he's guilty? Jacob Hunt is a teen with Asperger's syndrome. He's hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, though he is brilliant in many ways. But he has a special focus on one subject-forensic analysis. A police scanner in his room clues him in to crime scenes, and he's always showing up and telling the cops what to do. And he's usually right.

The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man's Quest to Be a Better Husband - The warm and hilarious bestselling memoir by a man diagnosed with Asperger syndrome who sets out to save his marriage.

Different - From his early childhood, Nathan was bursting with creativity and uncontainable energy, struggling not only with learning issues but also with anxiety and OCD. He saw the world through his own unique lens―one that often caused him to be labeled as "bad," "troubled," or someone in need of "fixing."

How to Speak Dolphin - Lily loves her half-brother, Adam, but his autism has taken over her life. Lily can't make friends or go out after school -- caring for Adam has forced Lily to become as much mother as sister. All Lily wants is for her stepfather, Don, to acknowledge that Adam has a real issue, and to find some kind of program that can help him. Then maybe she can have a life of her own.

The Autistic Brain: Helping Different Kinds of Minds Succeed - Temple Grandin may be the most famous person with autism, a condition that affects 1 in 59 children. Since her birth in 1947, our understanding of it has undergone a great transformation, leading to more hope than ever before that we may finally learn the causes of and treatments for autism.

Maria and Me: A father, a daughter (and Autism) - Giving a father's insight into life with his daughter Maria, aged 12, who has autism, this comic tells the story of their week holiday in the Canary Islands, Spain. Delightful illustrations and dialogue between father and daughter show the day-to-day challenges that people with autism and their carers face, and how Miguel and Maria overcome them.

More Than Words - Updated to reflect the most current view on naturalistic models of communication, this beautifully illustrated guidebook provides a step-by-step guide for parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other social communication difficulties. Presented in a user friendly format, the book s research-based strategies show parents how to turn everyday activities with their child into opportunities for interaction and communication.

The Spark - Kristine Barnett's son Jacob has an IQ higher than Einstein's, a photographic memory, and he taught himself calculus in two weeks. At nine he started working on an original theory in astrophysics that experts believe may someday put him in line for a Nobel Prize, and at age twelve he became a paid researcher in quantum physics.

Born on a Blue Day - Bestselling author Daniel Tammet ( Thinking in Numbers) is virtually unique among people who have severe autistic disorders in that he is capable of living a fully independent life and able to explain what is happening inside his head.

Engaging Autism: Using the Floortime Approach to Help Children Relate, Communicate, and Think - An essential guide to the highly recommended Floortime approach for treating children with any of the autism spectrum disorders (ASD). All Birds Have Anxiety - Life as a bird can be stressful! From worrying about airplanes, windows, and getting enough worms to eat, it is clear that birds can be anxious beings. Through a light-touch, quizzical depiction of bird behaviour, All Birds Have Anxiety uses colourful images and astute explanations to explore with gentle humour what it means to live with anxiety day-to-day, and how to begin to deal with it.

The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome - The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome is the definitive handbook for anyone affected by Asperger's syndrome (AS). Now including a new introduction explaining the impact of DSM-5 on the diagnosis and approach to AS, it brings together a wealth of information on all aspects of the syndrome for children through to adults.

Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism - When anthropologist Richard Grinker's daughter was diagnosed with autism in 1994, it occurred in only about 1 in every 10,000 children. Within ten years, rates had skyrocketed, and the media was declaring autism an epidemic. Unstrange Minds documents Grinker's quest across the globe to discover the surprising truth about why autism is so much more common today.

Carly's Voice: Breaking Through Autism - In this international bestseller, father and advocate for Autism awareness Arthur Fleischmann blends his daughter Carly's own words with his story of getting to know his remarkable daughter-after years of believing that she was unable to understand or communicate with him.

The Autism Mom's Survival Guide (for Dads, too!): Creating a Balanced and Happy Life While Raising a Child with Autism - Given the daily challenges of raising a child with autism, it's easy for parents to lose themselves and for their overall quality of life to plummet. Susan Senator interweaves the voices of autism parents, researchers, and professionals to offer guidance and encouragement on how to find happiness and fulfillment in the midst of the struggles of raising an autistic child.

1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism or Asperger's - This one-stop-shop of solutions, explanations, and strategies guides the reader to quickly find ideas that speak to the variety of developmental levels, learning styles, and abilities inherent in children with autism and Asperger's.

Mockingbird - Caitlin has Asperger's. The world according to her is black and white; anything in between is confusing. Before, when things got confusing, Caitlin went to her older brother, Devon, for help. But Devon was killed in a school shooting, and Caitlin's dad is so distraught that he is just not helpful. Caitlin wants everything to go back to the way things were, but she doesn't know how to do that. Then she comes across the word closure--and she realizes this is what she needs.

Aspergirls: Empowering Females with Asperger Syndrome - This is a must-have handbook written by an Aspergirl for Aspergirls, young and old. Rudy Simone guides you through every aspect of both personal and professional life, from early recollections of blame, guilt, and savant skills, to friendships, romance and marriage.

What Autism Gave Me: A Devastating Diagnosis To A Triumphant Life - Supported by documentation and interviews, Michael's heartfelt memoir traces the sustained challenges and turbulent journey he faced. His life was plagued by failures, negative results, rejections from schools, an inability to complete simple karate moves or participate in activities-all of which confirmed the hopeless situation. But Michael was surrounded by support, and he was encouraged to keep trying no matter how many times he failed.

AUTISM - Behind The Locked Door: Understanding My Life as an Autistic - Paul Louden, an adult on the spectrum, provides astonishing and unique insights into how the world appears to him compared to those wired neuro-typically. He bravely shares personal and sometimes painful experiences to bridge understanding between those with autism and those without.

Life with Lauren - an Odyssey into Autism - This is the story of strikingly beautiful Lauren Elizabeth de Villiers who is autistic and lives in a silent world of her own.

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We asked our followers on Instagram what books about autism they would recommend to others and below are their answers. All book descriptions are from Amazon.com. If you shop on Amazon, you can select Autism Speaks as your charity of choice and Amazon will donate as you shop via their Amazon Smile program!

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I am often asked to recommend books about autism. There are so many great books available, some with practical tips and others based on theory and research, that it's difficult to narrow them down to just a few.

This list of Ten Terrific Books focusses on books which I think are helpful for parents & teachers. Most of them focus on language skills and sensory processing, or are real life accounts.

I've deliberatley not included any health, diet or biomedical books in my list as I think to read up on these areas you need to look for specific books which are relevant to your situation and your child's unique needs, so that a great book for one family might not be so helpful for another.

So here are Ten Terrific Autism Books for Parents & Teachers (in no particular order) :

The Autistic Brain by Temple Grandin- this book contains information based on recent scientific research as well as Temple's own views. It's not an easy or quick read, but it will give you new insight into how your child/students think.

The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida- Naoki, age 13, explains what autism feels like to him. A lot of his insight focusses on sensory needs & challenges. This book is short & easy to read.

10 Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew by Ellen Nothbohm- this book contains lots of practical advice from a parent's perspective

Just Give Him The Whale by Paula Kluth- this book covers 20 ways to use fascinations and interests to engage kids. It's mainly written for teachers, but would be helpful for homeschool parents too.

Engaging Autism by Stanley Greenspan & Serena Weider- this book is based on Greenspan's Floortime approach (a semi-structed play based therapy). It's a heavier read, but a great book.

Running With Walker by Robert Hughes- this is book chronicle Walker's life from birth to age 16, and was written by his father. It's a great insight into the challenges and triumphs of family life.

Following Ezra by Tom Fields-Meyer - this is another memoir written by a father. It's moving & inspiring.

The Autism Language Launcher by Kate Wilde- this book is written by a senior Son Rise therapist and as the title suggests it focuses on how to help your child/student learn to speak. It's full of practical tips and ideas to try.

Uniquely Human, A Different Way of Seeing Autism by Barry Prizant- this book helps you understand the reasons behind why our kids might do what they do icluding sensory overload & anxiety.

Too Loud Too Bright Too Fast Too Tight by Sharon Heller- this book takes a detailed look at Sensory Defensiveness in kids & adults.

I hope this list is helpful. If you're looking for more specific advice on books on a particular topic please email kirsten@curriculumforautism.com and I'll do my best to point you in the right direction.

Thanks for reading,

Kirsten

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Ten Terrific Autism Books for Parents & Teachers - Curriculum For Autism

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I am often asked to recommend books about autism. There are so many great books available, some with practical tips and others based on theory and research, that it's difficult to narrow them down to just a few.

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12 Essential Books for Teaching Kids With Autism - We Are Teachers

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12 Essential Books for Teaching Kids With Autism - We Are Teachers

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In recent years, we've learned so much about how to help students with autism in our classrooms, but it can still be really challenging to meet the needs of kids who are on the spectrum. Unique learning styles and different sensory needs factor into why we sometimes struggle with our students who have been diagnosed with autism.

We've put together a list of some of our favorite resources. Some books on this list are classroom resources with specific teaching tools you can experiment with. Others are narrative and designed to help neurotypical adults understand what it's like to see the world through the lens of autism. Either way, if you teach kids on the spectrum, you'll likely want at least one or two (or five!) of these books in your library.

by Ellen Notbohm

If you're only going to buy one book about children with autism, this is the one you need. This best-seller is known for being clear and to the point. Even though it was written for parents, the book gives teachers quick insight into the mind of a child with autism. The author's firsthand experience, as both a teacher and a parent of children with autism and ADHD, offers insider information you can apply to the kids in your classroom. Also consider the companion book, Ten Things Your Student With Autism Wishes You Knew, which is written more specifically with teachers in mind.

by Beth Aune, Beth Burt and Peter Gennaro

One look at the table of contents and you'll likely recognize behaviors you deal with on a daily basis like "Bumping Into Other Students," "Breaking Pencils" and "Difficulty Lining Up." The solutions are practical and positive and explain the reasons behind the sometimes challenging behavior. Written by a pediatric occupational therapist, a parent of a child with autism and a director of special education, this guide has practical tips for teaching students with autism. This book is designed to be an at-your-fingertips resource. If you have a child who is chewing her clothing into little bits, you can quickly consult the table of contents to find the section on the issue, learn what is potentially at the root of the behavior and find possible solutions to implement immediately.

by John Elder Robison

This New York Times best-selling memoir offers a sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking look at what it's like to grow up with Asperger's syndrome in a time before there was much understanding of Asperger's or autism. The author's stories of his childhood will offer some understanding when it comes to some of the things your students with autism might be feeling and experiencing. Plus, you might find yourself laughing as you read the author's anecdotes about his efforts to navigate the adult world as a person with Asperger's. (His stories about learning to date are not to be missed!)

by Dr. Temple Grandin

This groundbreaking book by Dr. Temple Grandin, professor of animal science at Colorado State University, was one of the first to help neurotypical adults understand autism from a first-person point of view. She gives you a peek into her own psyche to help you understand how your students with autism might process information. Her explanation of how she sees the world in pictures forever changed how I relate to my students with autism and has affected how I support them in the classroom.

by Carol Gray

Consistently one of the top-selling books about teaching kids with autism, this new and updated version of The New Social Story Book continues to help both parents and educators prepare kids for social situations. Stories like "Mistakes Can Happen on a Good Day" and "It Was Fun but Now We're Done," plus over 150 more, illustrate typical struggles children with autism face. As the children listen to kids just like them navigate social situations, they learn strategies that they can apply in their own lives.

by Rebecca Moyes

We all know that half the challenge of teaching is setting up an effective learning environment. This book is designed to help you structure your classroom so that even kids who struggle with sensory overload (like many kids with autism do) will feel comfortable. The author places an emphasis on using data from student observations to craft a classroom that will support your specific students and their needs.

by Arlene Maguire, illus. by Sheila BaileyNot just about students with autism, this award-winning classic picture book explores people with disabilities and helps kids understand why some students might act differently or need different things. It is recommended for K-2 classrooms and is the perfect book to share with your students. Sometimes the way a class responds to a student who has special needs has the biggest impact on the success that student will experience. You can set all of your students up for success when you work through this story with them.

Not just about students with autism, this award-winning classic picture book explores people with disabilities and helps kids understand why some students might act differently or need different things. It is recommended for K-2 classrooms and is the perfect book to share with your students. Sometimes the way a class responds to a student who has special needs has the biggest impact on the success that student will experience. You can set all of your students up for success when you work through this story with them.

by Jed Baker, Ph.D.

We know a single meltdown can derail a whole day. This book can help you keep things on track. While Dr. Baker subscribes to the "prevention is the best medicine" theory, he knows that it's impossible to avoid every last meltdown. Tips for supporting children mid-meltdown and in the aftermath are also included. He offers an easy-to-follow four-step process that helps you stay calm while also helping the child return to a more peaceful state. While the book was written with kids who struggle with autism in mind, the strategies in this book will work well for all students.

by Jed Baker, Ph.D.

This award-winning book capitalizes on the fact that people with autism tend to think in pictures and uses that concept to reach young learners. Move beyond words that can fly right past a student with autism and use pictures to teach the abstract concepts that they may be struggling to grasp. Illustrations of sharing, turn-taking and more can create aha moments for these situations that can seem very abstract to students with autism. Also consider the companion book for high school students, The Social Skills Picture Book for High School and Beyond, which tackles topics like recognizing welcoming looks vs. unwelcoming looks and how to gauge interest from your listeners when you're speaking about a favorite topic.

by Ellen Notbohm and Veronica Zysk

You're guaranteed to find workable solutions for your classroom in this book of 1,001 (actually 1,800) ideas for working with kids who have autism or Asperger's. The book is broken up into five categories. It includes sections for helping with sensory integration, ideas for supporting communication and language, tips for managing challenging behavior, ideas for teaching daily living skills, and strategies for teaching social skills. You can look through the table of contents, target the issue you need to address and find a variety of potential solutions. This book has won numerous awards and is a must-have reference tool for your classroom bookshelf.

by Carol Stock Kranowitz

This classic book was one of the first to introduce sensory integration disorder to a wider audience, offering helpful advice to parents and teachers alike. While the book is coming up on its 20-year anniversary, I still keep a couple of copies on my bookshelf-one to reference myself and one to lend to parents. The book uses clear language to explain what often looks like confusing behavior when we're working with children on the autism spectrum.

by Lois Jean Brady

Handheld technology has made a huge difference in the lives of people with autism. Would you believe that there are over 200 apps that people with autism can use to make life easier? Apps for visual scheduling, navigating social situations and for self-soothing are among some of the top tools that people with autism are finding helpful. But how do you weed through 200 apps to find the one that's right for your students? The author has done all the hard work for you and identifies which apps are most likely to help with your students' individual needs. Even if the only device in your classroom is your own phone, this guide can help you pinpoint the apps most likely to meet your students' needs.

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12 Essential Books for Teaching Kids With Autism - We Are Teachers

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In recent years, we've learned so much about how to help students with autism in our classrooms, but it can still be really challenging to meet the needs of kids who are on the spectrum. Unique learning styles and different sensory needs factor into why we sometimes struggle with our students who have been diagnosed with autism.

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The author of the article that complied this list is a mom of a boy who has autism and the books on list are the ones that she found to be the best for her son and for opening up the conversation about autism.

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As children grow, we often wonder how to best explain autism spectrum disorder to siblings, peers and kids on the autism spectrum. Often times, children can relate to visuals and stories to best understand something as complex as autism.

There's an endless selection of children's books available to teach children and youth about ASD, and I have narrowed down some my favourite children's books on this very subject.

Below are eight children's books that do a great job of explaining and illustrating autism spectrum disorder.

All My Stripes: a Story for Kids with Autism. Shaina Rudolph & Danielle Royer, illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin

"Nobody gets me, Mama!" In All My Stripes, Zane the zebra feels different from the rest of his classmates. He worries that all they notice about him is his "autism stripe." With the help of his Mama, Zane comes to appreciate all his stripes - the unique strengths that make him who he is!

David's World: a Picture Book about Living with Autism. Dagmar Mueller & Verena Ballhaus

David does not like when people are noisy; he does not like being hugged - not even by his own brother. David does not laugh when happy or cry when sad. He speaks his own language, which is difficult to understand at times. And he eats the same foods almost every day. However, David is a brilliant pianist and seems to have an amazing ability to communicate with the family dog. And even though he is not like most children, through the eyes of his brother we are able to see how he makes progress toward understanding his world.

A Girl Like Tilly: Growing Up with Autism. Helen Bates, illustrated by Ellen Li

Tilly is struggling at school, she really doesn't like surprises, she isn't sure if she's a girl or a boy, and she just doesn't want to make new friends. Why is it such hard work to try and understand people, or for them to understand her? This poignant story maps the entire childhood of a bright young girl with autism. Growing up undiagnosed, she finds life increasingly difficult and confusing. Unable to communicate her thoughts and feelings, she retreats further into her own world while her family grows evermore perplexed and concerned. When a psychologist finally explains what makes her special, they can stop focusing on the problems and start to navigate a new way forward for Tilly.

With vividly expressive illustrations and minimal words, this story is a valuable tool for helping children aged 7-13 and their families understand female autism.

I See Things Differently: a First Look at Autism. Pat Thomas
This book will help children understand what autism is and how it affects someone who has it. A wonderful catalyst for discussion that will help children to better understand and support autistic classmates or siblings. The story line is simple and easily accessible to younger children, who will learn that exploring the personal feelings around social issues is a first step in dealing with them.

Leah's Voice. Lori DeMonia, illustrated by Monique Turchan

Leah's Voice is a story that touches on the difficulties children encounter when they meet a child with special needs such as autism. Children who have a brother or sister with special needs may find it difficult to explain to their friends, or feel disappointed when their friends aren't more understanding. Leah's Voice tells the story of two sisters facing these challenges. Through her kindness and devotion, one sister teaches by example the importance of including everyone and showing acceptance.

My Brother Is Autistic. Jennifer Moore-Mallinos, illustrations by Marta Fàbrega

Having a sibling with autism can be hard, especially at school. Maybe if the other kids knew more about autism they'd stop teasing Billy and just be nice!

This book describes an autistic child from his brother's point of view. It talks about ways autistic kids can be helped and how they can better relate to their family and surroundings.
My Brother Charlie. Holly Robinson Peete & Ryan Elizabeth Peete
Callie is very proud of her twin brother Charlie. He's so good at so many things - swimming, playing the piano, running fast. And Charlie has a special way with animals, especially their dog Harriet. Charlie is in many ways just like any other boy - and he has autism.

Since We're Friends: an Autism Picture Book. Celeste Shally, illustrated by David Harrington

Matt's autism doesn't stop him from having fun! Even when Matt struggles to navigate social situations, his friend is there to help him out. The two boys enjoy playing sports, watching movies, reading books, and talking about animals. Working together, a best friend's compassion and understanding turn Matt's frustration into excitement. Whether on the basketball court, the playground swings, or at the neighborhood pool, the two friends enjoy each other's company.

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8 Great Children's Books About Autism As children grow, we often wonder how to best explain autism spectrum disorder to siblings, peers and kids on the autism spectrum. Often times, children can relate to visuals and stories to best understand something as complex as autism.

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I found this website extremely helpful in thinking through what types of things (fidgets and more) could be helpful to have on hand in a classroom for a student that may be overly stimulated and need something sensory to calm down.

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30 Activities, Teaching Strategies, and Resources for Teaching Children with Autism

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30 Activities, Teaching Strategies, and Resources for Teaching Children with Autism

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This website lists out and explains how to do each of the activities!

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Because approximately 1 in 59 students are diagnosed with autism, learning how to help students with this disorder in the classroom is so important.[1] Teaching young students with autism communication skills and learning strategies makes it all the more likely that they'll reach their academic potential later on. And the more you learn about autism spectrum disorder, the better you'll be able to prepare these students for lifelong success.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that causes hypersensitivity to sights, sounds, and other sensory information. Symptoms of autism generally fall into three categories:[2]

Communication issues

Social impairment

Repetitive behaviors (known among the autism community as "stimming")

Here are 15 fun activities to help children with autism feel welcome in your class while addressing their symptoms and individual learning styles. Whether you play them one-on-one or as group activities, these are excellent ways to keep students with autism engaged and ready to learn.

Social Skills Activities for Elementary Students with Autism

A common characteristic of students with autism is trouble communicating or connecting with their classmates. Use these social skills activities to teach kids with autism how to recognize social cues, practice empathy, and learn other important life skills.

1. Name Game [3]

This fun group communication activity teaches students with autism an essential skill: how to introduce themselves and learn someone else's name. To play this game, gather your students in a circle so they can all see each other. Start by pointing at yourself and saying your name ("I am Mr. or Ms. _____."). Then, ask the child on your right to share their name just like you did and then repeat your name while pointing at you. Have each child take turn saying their name, then pointing at another child in the class and repeating their name.

The Name Game is an especially fun social skills activity for children with autism to do at the beginning of the school year. That way, they'll be able to learn their classmates' names and get a head start on making new friends.

2. "How Would It Feel to Be ____?" [4]

Next time you read a book to your class, try asking your students how it would feel to be the main character in the story. If you're reading a picture book about Cinderella, for example, you could ask how they would feel if they had two evil stepsisters who were mean to them. Or if you're reading Peter Pan as a class, you could ask them what happy memories they would think about to fly with magic pixie dust.

This can help students with autism learn empathy as well as how to see situations in their lives from another perspective. It can also teach them how to recognize emotional cues by encouraging them to put themselves in the perspective of another person.

3. Sharing Time [5]

Sharing time is a classic elementary school staple, and it can also be a great social-emotional learning (SEL) activity for kids with autism. Every week, have one kid in your class bring something that they'd like to share with the class. This will not only show students with autism how to discuss their interests with others but also how to practice active listening. And if they're fascinated by something another student brings in (or vice versa), they may even make a friend.

4. Emotion Cards

These printable cards for students with autism can help them learn how to recognize different emotions in themselves and others. Cut out each one with scissors and shuffle them in a deck. Then, go through each card and see if your student can recognize the emotion without looking at the word.

If they get stuck, that's okay-just show them the word and give them context for the emotion shown. If the card is "embarrassed," for example, you could say, "When a person is embarrassed, they might feel like they have done something silly or wrong on accident."

5. Board Games with a Twist

Teaching children manners can be a helpful way to boost social skills and explain the importance of being polite. This simple, but effective activity puts an etiquette-related twist on a simple game of chess, checkers, or mancala by requiring players to wish their opponent "good luck" or "good game" before and after they have played.

6. What Would You Do?

For a take-home activity you can share with families, try this What Would You Do? game. Families can go through different scenarios together and decide how they would react with questions like "How would you help?" or "What would you say?"

This activity keeps social skills sharp and reinforces relationship-building skills.

Sensory Activities for Children with Autism

Because children with autism are often hyper aware of sensory input, it's helpful for educators to provide accommodations so their students can focus in class. These activities involving sensory stimulation can keep kids with autism grounded in the present and comfortable learning with the rest of their classmates.

7. Sorting with Snacks Activity [6]

This tactile activity for children with autism can be a fun way to engage students during math time. Give everyone in your class a food that is easy to sort, like chewy snacks or small crackers. Multicolored snacks are ideal, but you can also use food that comes in different shapes, textures, or sizes.

First, ask them to sort the food by color, shape, or another characteristic. Then, use the snacks to teach students basic math skills like counting, adding, or subtraction. Once they've grasped the concept you want to teach, reward your students by letting them eat the snack.

8. Vegetable Paint Stamps [7]

This art activity for children with autism engages touch and sight to keep students focused on their assignment. Before class begins, cut slices of vegetables like potatoes, cucumbers, or peppers. Hand out a few vegetable slices to each child along with a cup of paint. Instruct your students to dip the bottom of the vegetable slice into the paint and then press it against a piece of paper.

As your students use these homemade stamps, they will make vibrant botanical impressions on their paper. From there, your students can either leave them as they are or finger paint to transform them into whimsical artwork.

9. Scientific Slime Experiments

Slime is not only a popular craft for young children but also a great sensory activity for autism in class. There are plenty of simple slime recipes online-look up your favorite and have fun making it with your students. You can use this as a tactile art activity if you'd like or as a science activity for elementary students.

10. Fidget Toys

Fidget toys are a well-known sensory tool for helping children with autism and other sensory processing disorders stay calm and focused. Depending on your available resources, you can either stock your classroom with a few fidget toys or make some of your own.

We Are Teachers has compiled a list of eleven fidget toys you can make on a budget with your students. From classics like fidget spinners to repurposed pipe cleaners or popsicle sticks, you're sure to find something useful for your classroom.

11.Auditory Sensory Play

When the phrase "sensory play" comes up, visual or textual activities usually come to mind first. Autism Adventures, however, suggests including activities that involve sound-with a few examples to get you started:[15]

Musical chairs

White noise machine

Simon Says

Noise-cancelling headphones

Rhythm instruments like shakers, rain sticks, or drums

12. Sensory Bin

Sensory bins can be useful for two reasons. First, they encourage differentiated instruction or independent play-both of which can have academic benefits for students. And second, they're a straightforward and accessible sensory experience for students with autism.

The Kindergarten Smorgasbord has put together a few useful tips for making your own sensory bin. Use them as a guide to set up a sensory bin that will best accommodate your students' needs.

Calming Activities to Prevent Autism Meltdowns in Class

When students with autism are feeling overwhelmed, the intense response that they feel may cause them to lose control of their emotions. This is called an "autism meltdown" and is different from when students without autism act out in class. While the best strategy for autism meltdowns is to seek help from a school specialist, these calm down activities can help to de-escalate stressful situations.

13. Grounding Techniques

Grounding techniques are designed to help us focus on the present during stressful situations. Here are a few grounding activities for kids with autism to try if they seem agitated:[8]

Count to ten or recite the alphabet as slowly as you can

Listen to calming music and pay attention to the different instruments

List five different things that you can see around the room

Try stretching or simple yoga exercises and focus on how your body feels

Hold something tactile like a piece of clay or a stuffed animal

For older students with autism, you could also try mindfulness meditation. This can produce a similar effect and help students tune into the present rather than getting carried away by their emotions.

14. Student Retreat Zone [9]

When a student with autism is overwhelmed, giving them a place where they can relax and take a break from sensory stimulation can sometimes go a long way. Designate a corner of your class as the "Student Retreat Zone" and fill it with sensory toys, picture books, comfortable seats, and calming activities that students with autism could do on their own.

Let every student in your class know that if they feel anxious or stressed, they can always take a few minutes to decompress in the Student Retreat Zone. That way, you don't have to single your student with autism out but still let them know that it's an option. If your student with autism seems like they could use some time away from class, you could also ask them if they'd like to read or work on homework in the library for a while.

15. Calm Down Drawer [10]

Tactile toys can help children with autism calm down if they're agitated since their minds are so attuned to sensory information. If you have children with autism in your class, fill a drawer in your classroom with toys that could help neutralize overwhelming emotions. When your student seems stressed or has trouble focusing, give them a sensory toy or two to help them relax.

Here are a few ideas for sensory toys to put in your "calm down drawer:" [11]

Play dough

Fidget toys

Stress balls

Weighted blankets

Aromatherapy pillows

16. Coloring

According to a partner article by The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children published by We Are Teachers, coloring pages can be a great mind-body exercise for calming down and focusing on the here and now.[16]

Keep a few coloring pages on hand, and suggest them as a calm-down activity when your students are overwhelmed. For a few free coloring pages to get you started, check out this resource from Disney.

17. Calm-Down Cards

If your student with autism struggles with calming down after feeling strong emotions, calm-down cards can be a helpful resource. A mother whose child has autism has created a how-to on creating your own calm-down cards at And Next Comes L.

Each card has a helpful idea for calming down after a stressful moment. Plus, the author notes they can also be useful for children with anxiety-a great resource for your classroom to have.

18. Mindful Breathing

Mindfulness is a technique that encourages children to keep their mind in the present and deal with uncomfortable emotions. If your student is struggling to calm down, try watching this mindful breathing video to help them regain composure.

Effective Teaching Strategies for Children with Autism

In some cases, the learning characteristics of students with autism may differ from the rest of your class. But luckily, the right teaching strategies and methods can keep children with autism on track to finish the school year strong. Try these tips, educational accommodations, and resources for students with autism to help them learn concepts that might otherwise be difficult for them to grasp.

19. Bring Special Interests Into Lesson Plans [12]

Many children with autism have a fixation on certain topics or activities. Take advantage of what they're passionate about and use it while teaching students with autism to help them focus in class. If a child with autism loves outer space, for example, you could plan a math assignment about counting the planets in our Solar System.

20. Use Multisensory Learning

Many kids with autism are multisensory thinkers and don't focus as well when assignments only engage one of their senses. Renowned scientist and autism advocate Dr. Temple Grandin once said, "I used to think adults spoke a different language. I think in pictures. Words are like a second language to me." [13]

For this reason, lessons that engage several senses like sight, hearing, and touch can make students with autism more responsive in class. You could, for example, teach children with autism how to read with magnet letters or sing a patriotic song to learn about American history.

21. Try a SMART Goal Challenge

If a student with autism is having a hard time with school, sit down with them and pick a SMART goal to work on over the next month or semester. SMART goals are an effective way to help children with autism reach their potential, and they are: [14]

Suppose, for example, that your student with autism is having trouble learning how to recognize emotions. You could make a goal with them to practice flash cards with emotions on them every day for five minutes and for the student to recognize each card by the end of the month. As long as the SMART goal hits all of the criteria, it can help your student focus on ways to make progress.

22. Provide Clear Choices

According to educators at the special education program of St Joseph's University, children with autism may become overwhelmed when given too many options.[17] Keep this in mind while creating assignments for your students or asking them questions in class. That way, you're more likely to keep your student with autism focused and comfortable choosing an answer.

23. Create a Strong Classroom Routine

In an article with Scholastic, educator Kim Greene reminds teachers that students with autism work best with a strong daily structure.[18] She suggests posting your class schedule for every student to see and, if possible, providing visuals and extra transition time to students with autism.

24. Offer Accommodations for Students with Limited Motor Skills

Some students with autism may have more trouble with activities that require fine motor skills than others. In an article with the Indiana Resource Center for Autism, renowned scientist and advocate Dr. Temple Grandin suggests offering accommodations-like typing on a computer instead of writing-to mitigate these challenges.[19]

When it comes to specific accommodations, it may depend on the individual. It's always a good idea to reach out to a student's family to determine the best resources for their child.

Activities for Autism Awareness Month in April

April is Autism Awareness Month, a time when we celebrate neurodiversity and help students with autism feel welcome in private or public schools. Although parents may not want their child's autism diagnosis to be shared (and you never should without their permission), you can still teach your class about inclusion this month without mentioning a certain student.

Use these three games as autism awareness activities during April or whenever you want to teach a lesson on diversity.

25. "Just Like Me" Activity

For this activity, gather all of your students together on the floor so they can all see each other. Have each child take turns sharing something about themselves, like:

"I have a pet dog."

"I can play the piano."

"My birthday is in September."

"I love to play soccer."

"My favorite color is yellow."

If a statement also applies to other students (like, for example, they also play the piano), instruct them to raise their hands. This will help remind students that they share more similarities than differences with their peers and that they can always find something to talk about.

26. Picture Books About Diversity

By reading a story about inclusiveness to your class, you can help them remember to be kind to everyone and look out for people who are different.

Here are a few picture books about diversity that you can share with your students:

The Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss

I'm New Here by Anne Sibley O'Brian

It's Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr

Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers and Marla Frazee

The Girl Who Thought In Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca

The last book on this list, The Girl Who Thought in Pictures, is about a famous researcher who was diagnosed with autism and has since stood as an activist for people with her condition. It is perfect for helping kids understand autism a little better without calling out a specific student.

27. Apples and Actions Game [15]

This object lesson starts with showing your student an apple. Pass the apple around the class and, as you do, have each child insult it and drop it on their desk or the ground. After every child has dropped it and said a mean thing to it, cut the apple in half and show your students all the bruises inside.

Explain to them that our words have consequences and that everything we say can make an impact on someone else. Just like how insulting and dropping the apple can bruise it, being mean to a classmate can have big effects on them. That way, your students will always remember to be kind.

28. Autism Bulletin Board

The puzzle piece is a popular autism awareness symbol. For a simple yet meaningful way to teach your students about autism awareness, create this puzzle piece bulletin board from Mrs. D's Corner. Each piece fights against negative stereotypes by reminding your students that people with autism are intelligent, empathetic, important, and so much more.

29. Teach Students About Historical Figures with Autism

Although the disorder wasn't discovered until the twentieth-century, people with autism have made important contributions to history, and it's important to educate students about them-not just in April but throughout the year. Here are a few well-known figures who are diagnosed with or believed to have had autism to get you started:[20]

Greta Thunberg

Vincent van Gogh

Temple Grandin

Albert Einstein

Emily Dickinson

30. Hold a Professional Development Session on Autism

It's so important to teach faculty about autism awareness, too. If you're a school administrator, consider holding a professional development session on teaching students with autism or sharing a few resources.

For example, the Regional Educational Laboratory Program has put together a helpful resource for administrators on how educators can support students with autism during remote learning.
Sources:

1. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Data & Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html.

2. The National Institute for Mental Health. A Parent's Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorder. https://www.autism-watch.org/general/nimh.pdf

3. Shapiro, L.E. 101 Ways to Teach Children Social Skills. The Bureau for At-Risk Youth, 2004.

4. Dougan, R. Social Emotional Learning Guidebook: Ideas for Incorporating SEL Activities into your Classroom. https://www.dvc.edu/faculty-staff/pdfs/SEL-Guidebook.pdf.

5. Shapiro, L.E. 101 Ways to Teach Children Social Skills. The Bureau for At-Risk Youth, 2004.

6. Autism Parenting Magazine. Sensory Play Ideas and Summer Activities for Kids with Autism. https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/best-sensory-play-ideas/.

7. Autism Speaks. 10 Fun Summer DIY Sensory Games for Kids. https://www.autismspeaks.org/blog/10-fun-summer-diy-sensory-games-kids.

8. Noelke, K. Grounding Worksheet. https://www.winona.edu/resilience/Media/Grounding-Worksheet.pdf.

9. Tullemans, A. Self-Calming Strategies. Autism Spectrum Disorder News, July 2013, 23.

10. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Data & Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder. Retrieved from cdc.gov: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html.

11. Larkey, S. Strategies for teaching students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other students with special needs. Learning Links: Helping Kids Learn, 3, pp. 1-5.

12. Blanc, M. Finding the Words... When They Are Pictures! Helping Your Child Become Verbal! Part 1. Autism/Asperger's Digest, May-June 2006, pp. 41-44.

13. Larkey, S. Strategies for teaching students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other students with special needs. Learning Links: Helping Kids Learn, 3, pp. 1-5.

14. Penn State Extension. More Diversity Activities for Children and Adults. R https://extension.psu.edu/more-diversity-activities-for-youth-and-adults.

15. Autism Adventures. Sensory Play in the Classroom . www.autismadventures.com/sensory-play-in-the-classroom/

16. The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children. 5 Calming Mind-Body Exercises to Try With Your Students. We Are Teachers. April 2018. https://www.weareteachers.com/mind-body-skills/.

17. Saint Joseph's University. Techniques for Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. https://online.sju.edu/graduate/masters-special-education/resources/articles/techniques-for-teaching-students-with-autism-spectrum-disorder.

18. Greene, K. Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/teaching-students-autism-spectrum-disorder/.

19. Grandin, T. Teaching Tips for Children and Adults with Autism. Indiana Resource Center for Autism. https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca/articles/teaching-tips-for-children-and-adults-with-autism.html.

20. Autism Community Network. Famous-With Autism. https://www.autismcommunity.org.au/famous-with-autism.html.

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30 Activities, Teaching Strategies, and Resources for Teaching Children with Autism - Waterford.org

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Use these activities to help children with autism feel welcome in your class while addressing their symptoms and individual learning styles.

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10 Fun Activities for Children with Autism

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10 Fun Activities for Children with Autism

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Craft activities for students with autism full of color and lots of fun!

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10 Fun Activities for Children with Autism | Education.com

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Give kids who are autistic activities that stimulate attention, foster calm, and create loads of fun! Here are 10 great autism activities.

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10 Therapeutic Activities for Children with Autism

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10 Therapeutic Activities for Children with Autism

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Not only do I think that these activities would be therapeutic to many students with autism but this resource lists out many ways to use one item that could be helpful for students. They also list activities that could benefit these students in school listing schedule making that is sensory-friendly and making a basket that is full of sensory-friendly things both of which could be really helpful to incorporate into the classroom.

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Children enjoy diving hands first into play experiences. Completing the tasks of building blocks, working a puzzle, and drawing pictures will yield skills that the child will use throughout his lifetime.

Occupational therapists are fortunate enough to be a critical part of the treatment team for children with special needs. Therapists who work with children are experts in looking at different games, activities, and toys to determine which skills a child needs to complete them. It is a fun job to have indeed!
Remember that children are wired to use their senses to develop skills during play.
A toy that can be used in many ways and that involves more than one sense will automatically be more enjoyable. Multi-sensory means that more pathways to brain development are opened and used.

In the article below, we'll cover 10 of our favorite activities for children with autism, which can work for all ages!

10 Therapeutic Activities for Children with Autism

1) Pool Noodles!

One of the cheapest and most versatile pieces of equipment I recommend is a simple foam pool noodle. They can be used in so many ways. Stock up at your local thrift store in the spring and summer for year-round fun. Here are some ways to use them:

Cut them up into two-inch pieces to stack and build like blocks

label pieces of pool noodles with each letter of the alphabet and stack pieces of pool noodles on top of each other in alphabetical order

create boats out of pool noodles, straws, and triangles

use straws, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes to create bugs

string two-inch pieces of pool noodles using a piece of string or rope

cut them in half vertically and make pathways for water play

make obstacle courses out of pool noodles cut in half to create balance beams

make light sabers out of pool noodles by cutting them into quarters and wrapping duct tape around the top of each quarter to make a handle

do a search on our Harkla Pinterest board for awesome ideas

2) Create sensory bins full of fun items

It's so easy to get stuck using only rice or grain. To prevent a huge mess, play on top of a shower curtain.

aquarium gravel comes in awesome colors

Easter grass

straws cut up into pieces......In fact, let kids cut the straws to build fine motor skills

feathers

moon dough

tissue paper pieces

ribbon

buttons and beads

dirt and sand

Check out our full list of sensory toys to choose from!

3) Create a safe sensory time-out area

The area should be in a place in which your child feels safe and can relax, so avoid creating it in the center of the family's home. Encourage your child to work with you and give them choices of material and what goes in the sensory area.

If you are feeling ambitious, you could create your child an entire sensory room!

Use a large cardboard box from an appliance and tape the edges with colored duct tape to prevent paper cuts.

Hang a hula hoop decorated with ribbons so they cascade down. This is an awesome visual resembling a colorful waterfall which is awesome for tactile play too!

Even a closet or corner can work....it's what's inside that's important.

Include our Harkla weighted blanket and lap pad.

Add a CD player or music your child finds calming.

Make sure your child has fidget items to keep hands busy.

4) Keep maze books, word searches, eye spy puzzles on hand

It's important to work on visual skills while having fun. There are so many fun computer and electronic games, but working on paper/pencil tasks helps not only coordination of the hands, but also visual perceptual skills. The eyes learn to work together and improve skills such as problem-solving and visual scanning (looking at the entire page in order to find a solution).

5) Visual schedules

Visual schedules have been critical in both my clinic and in my own home. I depend on a calendar and schedule to keep on track. It's been proven that many children with autism are visual learners. This means that a picture schedule outlining the steps of a task is helpful.

Even for daily tasks such as taking a shower, a schedule of the steps should be posted so that kids know exactly what to expect and what comes next. This can be incorporated into play activities. So, take pictures of a block tower and number them.

Ask your child to put them in order by saying, 'What comes first?' and so on. One of the most helpful tools parents can use is a camera. Take step by step photos of each activity, print, and laminate them.

6) Make an obstacle course

Use anything you can find. Taped lines are wonderful for 'pretend' balance beams. Hula hoops, bean bag tossing, jump ropes can all be included. Walking like animals is always fun and builds awesome gross motor skills.

hop like a frog

gallop like a horse

slither like a snake

crawl like a puppy

wiggle like a worm

jump like a kangaroo

walk like a crab

prance like a unicorn

7) Sensory and calm-down bottles

The addition of smaller items your child prefers make the bottles fun and add visual appeal. For example, adding hair gel with a bit of water and glitter so that the glitter falls slowly through the bottle. Paper clips are fun to add so that kids can use a magnet to attract and move the paper clips throughout the jar.

Check out Pinterest for thousands of ideas for sensory bottles.

These are all the rage right now. Why? They can be customized for each child and are designed for many purposes. They can be created with water, hair gel, water beads, and other filler materials.

8) Playground and outdoor activities

Ask questions about why he doesn't prefer the equipment or only walks in circles around the playground vs. using the equipment as designed. Offer fun alternatives such as alphabetic scavenger hunts and finding items beginning with each letter of the alphabet.

These types of activities help children to use so many senses together. Encourage kids to play outside and in bare feet whenever possible. If your child is not fond of playground equipment, he may be letting you know that he needs additional therapy in order to overcome a fear or motor weakness.

9) Involve your child in daily decisions

Remember that children love to participate and gain parental approval. Even the most mundane of tasks can be fun when done together. For example, set a weekly menu. Look through cookbooks and the pantry to decide what items need to be added to the grocery list. Ask your child what meals he prefers and ask him to find out the required items and write them on the list. Then, shop together and work on getting familiar with the store. Finally, checking out helps with money management and budgeting. Remember that the ultimate goal is for your child to function independently and it's never too late to start.

10) Add 'brain breaks' or YOGA and movement activities

These can be incorporated throughout your child's day. It's critical to ensure your child is taking a break at school and preparing mentally for difficult assignments and tests.

Deep breathing and calming strategies should be practiced when things are calm and not stressful so that they can be easily accessed when a child is stressed.

Many breathing exercises and brain breaks can be found on the internet and here, at the Pocket Occupational Therapist website.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading about our favorite therapeutic activities for children with autism! We hope you are able to start working some of them into your child's life.
What activities are your favorites in your home? Let us know in the comments below! Comments will be approved before showing up.
Keep following the Harkla blog for more awesome tips and helpful ideas to help those with special needs. We strive to provide the latest topics and activities for your family.

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10 Therapeutic Activities for Children with Autism

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Children enjoy diving hands first into play experiences. Completing the tasks of building blocks, working a puzzle, and drawing pictures will yield skills that the child will use throughout his lifetime. Occupational therapists are fortunate enough to be a critical part of the treatment team for children with special needs.

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18 Social Skills Activities for Kids with Autism and Sensory Issues

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18 Social Skills Activities for Kids with Autism and Sensory Issues

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I found looking through these was helpful in thinking about how to design and incorporate activities that would bring these students into the classroom and make them a valuable part of the classroom culture.

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If you're looking for social skills activities for kids with autism, as well as practical tips to help you teach social skills to a child on the autism spectrum, you've come to the right place!

Autism and Social Skills

While no two children with autism are the same, and the range and intensity of symptoms varies from person to person, social dysfunction tends to stand out the most when interacting with a child on the autism spectrum. Some kids find back-and-forth dialogue difficult, preferring to talk only about a topic he or she is interested in, while others prefer to avoid social interactions completely.

To an outsider, it often seems as though these children prefer to play independently, and while that may be the case for some, many kids with autism genuinely want to form friendships with their peers.

They just don't know how to do it!

In the face of communication challenges, sensory processing sensitivities, an inability to express their own emotions and understand the emotions of others, and problems with impulse control and self-regulation, the world is an overwhelming and confusing place for people with autism, and despite their best intentions, they often fall short when it comes to reading social cues and responding appropriately.

The good news is that it IS possible to teach social skills to kids with autism, and we have 25 tips and social skills activities to help.

Teaching Social Skills for Autism: 7 Tips for Parents

Be a good role model. One of the foundations of teaching social skills for autism is to model what appropriate socialization looks like for your child, and explain what you're doing and why. This can be uncomfortable for parents and caregivers who are introverted, but when you model consistent and positive social behavior for your child, it will be easier for her to mimic these behaviors over time. Make it a point to greet those you encounter together on a daily basis, and engage in small talk wherever possible.

Role play. Another great way to teach social skills to kids with autism is to role play. You can come up with fictional situations to act out together, or you can re-enact scenes that already happened and discuss more appropriate ways to handle such interactions in the future. Remember to practice often and to be consistent to ensure the principals and ideas you are trying to teach your child resonate with her.

Use social stories and scripts. Social stories are written descriptions of everyday situations and events told from a child's perspective. They are aimed at providing children with something to rehearse so they feel prepared once the situation described actually takes place, and can be an excellent strategy for teaching social skills to kids with autism. Social scripts are a little more generic in that they provide kids with a pre-defined list of things to say in certain situations, and while they are certainly useful in teaching kids how to start conversations and how to respond to small talk, they should be used with caution as they won't work in every situation and can make kids sound too scripted.

Develop a list of social rules. If your child struggles to understand some of the nuances of socialization, like the importance of saying 'hello' and 'goodbye', taking turns while talking, respecting personal space, etc., consider developing a list of 'Social Rules' for your child to abide by. Write them down on a white board and keep them somewhere visible so your child can refer to the list often, and if your child struggles to maintain the rules you've set forth, consider turning this into a reward system whereby your child earns a small treat for following a certain number of the rules you've set forth for her each day.

Enroll your child in social groups. Many major cities offer social groups for kids with autism, which are aimed at pairing children with similar abilities together in an effort to provide opportunities for them to practice important social skills like starting conversations and taking turns talking. This is often done through play, and while social groups can be highly beneficial, the uniqueness of autism can make it difficult to find other kids with similar social skills to your child.

Organize supervised playdates. If you're interested in providing your child opportunities to socialize with her peers, but struggle to find kids with similar social abilities, consider hosting playdates with some of her school mates at your home and find ways to get involved so as to teach your child how to interact appropriately. Organize games and activities for the kids to enjoy during the playdate so your involvement seems natural, and find subtle ways to prompt your child. Alternatively, if the other parents are open to it, you might consider having one of your child's therapists participate in the playdate so he/she can more appropriately teach your child what is expected of her.

Read books. There are heaps of great books filled with social learning tips and social skills activities for kids with autism, many of which are geared towards providing ideas to parents and caregivers. Here are of 6 my favorites!

The Zones of Regulation. The Zones of Regulation is a cognitive behavior based curriculum designed to help children learn how to regulate their emotions independently by teaching them how to identify their feelings and how their behavior impacts those around them. Developed by Leah M. Kuypers, the program teaches children how to recognize when they are in different emotional states called 'zones', which are represented by different colors. The Zones of Regulation uses activities to equip children with the tools they need to regulate their actions and stay in one zone (or move from one zone to another), allowing them increased control and problem-solving abilities, which will in turn help them understand how to interact in social settings, and how their actions may be perceived by and impact others. If your child struggles with self-control and lacks the ability to understand her emotions as well as the feelings of others, I highly recommend the program, and this book is a great starting point.

You Are a Social Detective. This is an introductory book to the Social Thinking curriculum, and kids love it! Through fun cartoons, kids learn to distinguish between 'expected' and 'unexpected' social behaviors, and as they work through the book with a parent, therapist, or teacher, they will learn other 'social smarts', which will help them understand how they should and shouldn't behave in social settings.

The New Social Story Book. If you're interested in using social stories to teach your children social skills and/or need inspiration on how to create your own social stories, this book is a great place to start. With over 150 social stores to choose from, these stories will help you teach your child how to recognize and respond to social cues, and how to make and maintain friendships.

Social Skills Handbook for Autism: Activities to Help Kids Learn Social Skills and Make Friends. With more than 50 meaningful social skills activities to choose from, this book is packed with ideas to help parents, therapists, and teachers teach social skills to kids with autism.

How to Make & Keep Friends: Tips for Kids to Overcome 50 Common Social Challenges. This book comes highly recommended from parents with older kids on the autism spectrum who struggle to make and maintain friendships.

The Autism Activities Handbook: Activities to Help Kids Communicate, Make Friends, and Learn Life Skills. With more than 30 games and activities to help children on the spectrum learn different developmental skills like following directions, interacting with peers, developing social skills, and improving their communication and language skills, I highly recommend this book!

Social Skills Activities for Kids with Autism

And now for the fun part! If you're looking for social skills activities for kids with autism and other developmental delays, this collection of 18 ideas is perfect for home, school, therapy, and social group settings, and double as fabulous one-on-one activities you can enjoy with your child when you want to spend some good 'ole quality time together.

Kids Activities that Teach Emotions

Emotions Match Up | Teachers Pay Teachers
Teachers Pay Teachers offers all kinds of helpful activities and games to help kids work on specific skills, and this Uno-inspired match-up game presents thought-probing questions about emotions, situations, and strategies which not only serve as an excellent teaching tool, but also helps foster conversation skills!

Emotions Sorting Game | Mom Endeavors
If your child struggles with emotional regulation, this is a great activity to explore. It's based on the movie Inside Out, and these Inside Out figures provide so many opportunities to teach kids about anger, sadness, fear, disgust, and joy!

Zones of Regulation Twister | Unknown
If your kids enjoy the classic game Twister, this is a great Zones of Regulation activity, and you can set this up so many different ways. For example, when your child puts a hand on a certain color, he must tell you about a time he was in that colored zone, and when he puts his foot on a certain color, he must tell you about a strategy he used while in that colored zone to help him get back to the green zone.

Kids Activities that Teach Self-Regulation

Self-Control Bubbles | Love, Laughter and Learning in Prep!
If you want an excuse to get outside and enjoy some sunshine with your little ones, grab a couple of bottles of bubbles and give this self-control activity a try!

Musical Statues
I remember this being a favorite birthday party game when I was growing up, and recently learned it's a fabulous game to teach kids the art of self-control. All you have to do is pump some good tunes, let your child dance off some energy, and periodically stop the music and yell 'FREEZE!' The idea is for your child to go from dancing to standing completely still in an instant, which isn't an easy task for kids who struggle with self-control.

Distraction
This game is equal parts hilarious and educational, and can be enjoyed in the classroom or as a family. Players take turns drawing number cards and must remember the growing sequence of numbers until a player pulls a 'distraction card'. This person must then answer a silly question before reciting the sequence of numbers in the exact order they were drawn. It's so much fun and a great therapy toy to help kids with challenges develop their cognitive skills in a non-threatening way.

Blurt!
Geared towards older kids, Blurt! is a fun game the whole family can participate in, but it's also a great way to teach kids self-control. The premise behind the game is simple - one person reads a definition, and the person to blurt out the corresponding word first wins - and when you organize the game such that only 2 people are playing against one another at a time, it forces the rest of the family to exercise self-control as they refrain from yelling out the answer.

Kids Activities that Teach Communication Skills

Social Skills Board Games
This set contains six unique board games in one box, which are focused on helping kids learn about morals, manners, empathy, friendship, and emotions. It's a great bundle to consider and the games are perfect for family game night!

Size of the Problem Activity Pack | Teachers Pay Teachers
The activities in this set help kids identify the size of their problems and the feelings they create, identify which reactions are/are not appropriate, and strategize possible solutions, making it a great way to engage in meaningful back-and-forth communication with your child while simultaneously teaching appropriate communication skills and responses.

Learning Resources Conversation Cubes
With 36 conversation starters to choose from, these Conversation Cubes offer a fun way for older kids to practice starting and maintaining conversations with others. You can practice at home, or set-up conversation groups within a classroom setting, allowing children the opportunity to practice how to initiate a conversation, and how to listen when others are speaking.

All About You Thumball
Whether you're practicing social skills at home, or hosting a social group for your child, the All About You ball offers a great way to break the ice, teach kids appropriate social conversation starters, and get them talking.

Social Skills Challenge | Teachers Pay Teachers
This is a fun classroom activity, but you can easily use it at home or in a therapy setting as well. The idea is to provide your child(ren) with a social challenge each day, and then have them reflect on how they felt while completing each activity. It's an innovative way to get kids thinking about appropriate socialization throughout the day, and by offering your child a way to reflect on their feelings afterward, you will gain a greater understanding of how she perceives certain social settings and interactions.

Kids Activities that Teach Problem Solving Skills

Describing and Solving Problems | Teachers Pay Teachers
This is a great activity for kids who struggle to distinguish between big and small problems as well as appropriate reactions.

Scrabble
Scrabble is a great game for kids who struggle with planning and organization. As the game progresses, they must strategize and anticipate how they can build their own words off of those already played by others. This is also a great game for kids who struggle with spelling and/or vocabulary, and it gets them talking!

Memory
Also known as 'Concentration', there are many versions of the classic game Memory available for purchase to help develop a child's focus and concentration skills. The idea is pretty easy and can be enjoyed with 2 or more players. Simply lie all of the tiles from the game facing downwards, and then take turns turning over 2 tiles at a time until you find a match. Children naturally build their working memory as they try to remember where specific cards are. We love our Despicable Me Memory Game, and I highly recommend Melissa & Doug's Flip to Win Travel Memory Game as it can be played independently (or as a family) for on-the-go fun.

Problems in a Jar
Mosswood Connections is one of my favorite resources for ideas to help kids with developmental delays like autism and sensory processing disorder, and I recently found this Problems in a Jar activity on their site. It's designed to help kids with executive function disorder learn how to define a problem, generate possible solutions, evaluate and select the best solution, and then implement the solution independently. It's a great social skills activity to work through with your child at home.

Team Sports
Another great way to help a child develop her social skills is to sign her up for team sports she enjoys, like soccer or basketball. Organized activities such as these require kids to practice a whole range of social and problem-solving skills, like following directions, planning, strategizing, and even controlling their emotions in the event that they lose a game.

Swish
I'm new to this game, but so far I really like it. To play, you lay out your cards and then try to find as many matches as possible. The cards are transparent and have different colored hoops on them in different positions. Players must look for matches (aka 'swishes'), and the player to find the most wins. Swishes are created when a player can line up 2 cards such that the hoops are identical when they are stacked one on top of another. Cards can be rotated in order to make a swish, requiring players to use a variety of executive functions. In addition to exercising their visual-spatial abilities, they must focus and concentrate, and work quickly to beat their opponent, making it a great interactive game for kids who struggle with socialization.

I hope this collection of teaching tips and social skills activities for kids with autism proves helpful to you. Remember to be a good role model, to practice patience and consistency, and to keep things FUN!
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18 Social Skills Activities for Kids with Autism and Sensory Issues

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If you're looking for social skills activities for kids with autism, as well as practical tips to help you teach social skills to a child on the autism spectrum, you've come to the right place!