Early Intervention Games: Fun, Joyful Ways to Develop Social and Motor Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum or Sensory Processing Disorders »

Barbara Sher, M.A., O.T.R., has more than 30 years experience as a teacher and occupational therapist, specializing in pediatrics. She conducts workshops for parents, teachers, therapists, and children around the world, and is the author of nine books, including Attention Games, Self-Esteem Games, and Extraordinary Play with Ordinary Things, which have been translated into eight languages.

Early Intervention Games

Barbara Sher

Fun, Joyful Ways to Develop Social and Motor Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum or Sensory Processing Disorders

Early Intervention Games

Children identified with Autism Spectrum or Sensory Processing Disorders are often perceived as needing to be "fixed." However, recent research suggests that what we need to do instead is play with them and help them find the joy in interacting with others. In Early Intervention Games, expert occupational therapist Barbara Sher provides a wide selection of fun and novel games to do at home or in the classroom, including a variety of games to play in water. This indispensable resource can help these unique children enhance and increase their social, motor, and sensory skills. Each game explains the lessons playfully learned and ways of modifying the games so that everyone, regardless of skill level and sensibility, can play along.

Neuroscientists now know that playing is a profound biological process that shapes and enlarges the brain; but from the children's view, it just feels good to have fun. Enjoy the positive interaction with the children in your life that you'll discover in Early Intervention Games.

Praise for Early Intervention Games

"Early Intervention Games brims with sparkling ideas to help children learn the pleasures of engaging in back and forth play. Barbara's warm advice and cool activities invite us to dive right in!"

—Carol Kranowitz, author of The Out-of-Sync Child

"Barbara Sher is gifted in her ability to weave therapy into play while deeply respecting the strengths and uniqueness of each child. In this book, she artfully explains how everyone can support challenged children through brilliantly creative yet practical, low-budget games. Her gentle, welcoming ways pull out the best in children as she shows us how to playfully play."

—Mary Sue Williams, co-author of How Does Your Engine Run?® Alert Program® for Self-Regulation

"Early Intervention Games takes a unique approach with its emphasis on playful activities. Barbara Sher's games and ideas are simple, fun, and wonderful tools for therapists working with children who have Sensory Processing or Autism Spectrum Disorders."

—Dr. Lucy Jane Miller Ph.D., OTR, executive director, Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation and author of Sensational Kids

Introduction.

Chapter 1 Understanding Sensory Processing Issues.

Chapter 2 How the Games Help Sensory Processing Challenges.

Chapter 3 Social Gross Motor Games.

A Kid Sandwich.

Are You My Mummy?

Balloon Baseball.

Blanket Ride.

Boat Ride.

Box Ride.

Going Through the Tunnel of Legs.

Hammock Swing.

“I'm Here!”

Jump to Colors.

Leap the Shoes.

Massage Brushing.

Name Game.

Obstacle Course.

Races.

Rolling Children.

RurRurRurRurRun!

Sausage Roll (or Sushi Wrap, Hot Dog, Burrito, etc.)

Scarf Toss.

Shape Targets.

Stack the Cans.

Stop and Go.

Target Games.

Throw the Balls into the Box.

Throwing into the Tubes.

Throwing Through the Tube.

Tug of War.

Walk with Rhythm.

We Are Rocking.

Who Is This?

Who's in the Box?

Wiggling Snake

Chapter 4 Social Fine Motor Games.

Bingo Game.

Bubble Blowing.

Cereal Box Puzzles.

Cereal Necklace.

Colored Slots.

Drawing Faces.

Dump and Fill.

Eyedropper Squirts.

Feather Blowing.

Listening Game.

Lost in Rice.

Penny Flick.

Point to the Cup.

Pudding Party.

Secret Message.

Sink the Boat.

Smelling Game.

Sound Makers.

Straw Sucking.

Styrofoam Hammering.

Tile Painting.

Toothpick Treats.

What’s in the Sock?

Yes/No Game.

Chapter 5 Water Games.

Blow Bubbles and Hum.

Boogie Board Ride.

Bury the Body.

Catch a Fish.

Choo-Choo Train.

Fill the Bucket.

Floating on Your Back.

Gecko Walking.

In and Out Crash.

Into the Hole.

The Kids in the Water Splashy Clap.

The Little Dutch Boy.

Little Jumps/Big Jumps.

London Bridge.

Make a Pond.

Monkey Walking.

One Two Three—Change.

Parallel Swim.

Ping Pong Play.

Ready? Set. Jump!

Riding the Horse Noodles.

Ring Around The Rosy.

Save Your Life.

Shark Attack.

The Sponge Pass.

The Squirting Game.

Tug the Tube.

Wa-Wa-Wa-Water!

Appendix I Index of Games by Sensory System or Skill Stimulated.

Appendix II Additional Resources.