Play skills in autistic children
Before you read
In this article, we share general information about some areas of development and the differences that might be seen in autistic children.
Every child with autism is unique and different. While they may share some similar traits, it’s important to know that each child will have their own learning styles, interests and preferences.
This information is designed to help you understand and support your autistic child. Always speak to their therapist/s before introducing any new strategies in the home.
Some of the strategies might be helpful for children without autism or without a diagnosis. We recommend speaking with your child’s early learning centre, your GP and/or your family network for more support.
What is play?
Play is a critical part of childhood and is a significant contributor to a child’s development. Research tells us that play literally builds our brains – when children play they learn skills for life. They test theories, problem-solve, use memory and develop control over their bodies.
Social play has a profound impact on how children come to understand themselves as individuals. As play becomes more sophisticated, children learn various social rules and to initiate, negotiate and problem-solve – important skills they will carry into adulthood.
How can autism impact a child’s play skills?
Being able to play allows children to participate in education settings and in the community.
The way an autistic child plays might look different to other children of their age because they are engaged in a different type or different stage of play. Some types and stages of play are explained below.
Children receive and process all sorts of information when they play – from adults, other children, their senses and their environment. A child who’s social and communication skills are different, or who is preoccupied with meeting their sensory needs, will be less able to understand and learn from the play they encounter if those differences aren’t addressed and supported.
Types of play
Play can come in many forms. Children develop different skills in different types of play. Below are some examples:
-
Exploratory play — when children explore their environment or toy items, rather than playing with them, like mouthing a block.
-
Physical play — involves movements such as running, jumping, climbing, dancing, and playing sports.
-
Cause and effect play — when a child learns that their actions can cause something to happen. For example, music toys and pop-up toys.
-
Sensory play — engages the child’s senses. For example, sand play, water play, playdough.
-
Constructive play — involves building, creating and fitting things together. For example, wooden blocks, puzzles, LEGO and other construction sets.
-
Pretend or imaginative play — when a child uses their imagination to create different scenarios. This includes role play, dressing up, playing kitchen and so on. This type of play is often social and so requires (and develops) social communication skills.
-
Functional play — when a child plays with toys the way they were designed like pushing a car or throwing a ball.
Stages of play
At each stage, a child’s play skills are refined and developed. The stages aren’t strictly linear - some children might participate in multiple stages at the same time or revisit a certain stage depending on their developmental level and what or who they are playing with.
- Unoccupied play — for example, when babies explore what their bodies can do by moving their arms, legs, hands and feet. There is no particular purpose to their play.
-
Solitary play — when a child plays by themselves, without noticing the play of others.
-
Spectator/onlooker behaviour — when a child starts to notice what others are doing around them, but is not playing with them.
-
Parallel play — when children play alongside one another, but are playing alone. They may show an interest in what others are doing but without much interaction.
-
Associative play — when a child’s play is related to the children around them and may be interacting socially, but without a common goal.
-
Cooperative play — when children play with one another towards a shared interest or common goal. Cooperative play is complex and involves communication, empathy, trust and negotiation.
What can families do to help?
The most effective way to develop a child’s play skills is to follow their interests and to meet them at their developmental level. Consider some of these tips below:
-
Observe your child, paying attention to how and what they like to play — try including yourself in their play without moving their attention away from what they’re interested in.
-
Get face to face with your child while playing — this will help promote eye-contact, and help them see your play and your facial expressions.
-
Play with your child often — this will give you lots of opportunities to model different skills like language skills (teaching the names of different toy items), play and problem-solving skills (how to play with different toys, or play with the same toy in different ways).
-
Give your child opportunities to play around or with other children.
-
Use songs and nursery rhymes with younger children. They often involve different actions and movements which make it fun and interesting!
Summary
- Play is essential for child development – it helps children build cognitive, social, and physical skills that they carry into adulthood.
- Autistic children may engage in different types or stages of play – their play might look different due to social, communication, or sensory differences, but with the right support, they can still benefit from play experiences.
- There are many types and stages of play – from exploratory and sensory play to cooperative and pretend play, children develop different skills depending on the kind of play they engage in.
- Families can nurture play skills by following their child's interests – observing how a child plays, joining in without disrupting their focus, modelling new skills, and encouraging social play can support development.
