This is a resource of fun games for parents or teachers to help young children learn social and motor skills. Barbara Sher, an expert occupational therapist and teacher, has written a handy resource filled with games to play with young children who have Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or other sensory processing disorders (SPD). The games are designed to help children feel comfortable in social situations and teach other basic lessons including beginning and end, spatial relationships, hand-eye coordination, and more. Games can also be used in regular classrooms to encourage inclusion. This book provides a collection of fun, simple games that can improve the lives of children with ASD or other SPDs. Games can be played by parents or teachers and with individual children or groups. Games are designed to make children more comfortable in social situations and to develop motor and language skills. It also includes a variety of interactive games to play in water, whether in a backyard kiddie pool, community swimming pool, or lake. All the games are easy-to-do, utilizing common, inexpensive materials, and include several variations and modifications.

Table of Contents

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.

About the Author

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.