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

According to a recent press release from the CDC, the number of children with autism spectrum disorders is now as high as 1 in 100.  With well over a half a million American children estimated to be affected, there’s a growing need for resources to address their unique challenges quickly and effectively.

Parents and educators will find EARLY INTERVENTION GAMES: Fun, Joyful Ways to Develop Social and Motor Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum or Sensory Processing Disorders (Jossey-Bass, a Wiley imprint; November 2009; $16.95 / Paper; ISBN: 978-0-470-39126-6), an accessible and practical tool for their child’s development. Targeted for pre-school and kindergarten students, each game teaches basic lessons – from spatial relationships to hand-eye coordination – and how it can be modified for inclusion in an integrated classroom.  Explanations of techniques, such as social clubs and aquatic therapy, are also included to address specific issues like sensory defensiveness and meltdowns.

Research shows that children who are identified early and given appropriate therapies show great improvement in social and motor skills. But for parents, teachers, and caregivers dealing with an unresponsive child, strategies for development can be overwhelming and confusing. EARLY INTERVENTION GAMES offers simple games that can be put into place immediately in order to facilitate lasting change.