Teaching play to children with autism: a practical intervention using Identiplay

For children on the autistic spectrum and those with a specific communication disorder the social and emotional impairment demonstrates itself in, amongst other ways, a difficulty in learning to play and a resulting isolation from peers and their imaginative and physical world.

The authors explain the function and development of play for children who develop the skills normally. Their analysis has provided a sound theoretical basis for the practical teaching programme which promotes the development and opportunity to practise the elements:

" social skills and social understanding,

" imagination,

" rehearsal,

" flexibility and change,

" exploration.

The sections of the book cover:

1. Tabletop Identiplay - instructions on how to set up this positive and practical play intervention based on the work of Beyer and Gammeltoft

2. Identiplay kits and play scripts - a resource bank of copiable pages clearly listing ideas for Identiplay kits and possible play scripts to use with each set.

3. Beyond Identiplay - ways of adapting Identiplay to further extend play skills, moving away from the original format of a table-top activity, and applying the principles in a wider range of activities, such as role play, the development of leisure activities, water play, and outdoor games.

A CD-ROM is included containing the photographs, video clips and scripts to allow printing of all the materials.