Teacher and therapists use balls to encourage autistic kids to talk and play. Spring is the perfect time for families to play to build socialization skills.
As I was driving home yesterday, I noticed a large plastic ball that had blown to the side of the street. The swirls of blue and white made me think of how much kids love to choose a ball from one of those big bins in discount stores. Isn’t it true that they always want ones at the bottom? Regardless of which one is chosen or if it was a gift, the language and socialization opportunites that come with a ball are endless.
To begin with (and this is especially true many kids who are autistic) a colorful ball catches the eye. When an adult scoops up the ball and holds it next to his face, the child’s attention is immediately drawn in that direction. Granted, this is often a brief glance since kids who are autistic often avoid eye contact. It is, however, a start.
What if the parent adds one more step: scoop up the ball, hold it next to the parent’s face, and say the color of the ball. If this happens repeatedly, it becomes a form of a teaching game. Remember that all kids learn from repetition, and kids who are autistic especially learn from very focused, repetitive activity.
Of course, the other benefit with this activity is the eye contact. For many autistic kids, this will be brief, but it will happen.
After you have introduced the color, use the opportunity to try a game: catch, rolling the ball, tossing the ball in a laundry basket, hiding the ball under a blanket, etc. Remember this is a time to boost communication, but you are also promoting socialization . . . in this case, playing ball. So what color ball will you choose to start this spring time fun?
