Play time for AS/HFA toddlers

October 13, 2006

Hi, all,

Just something I'm wondering about. My daughter, 3, uses her

imagination some... for tea parties and such and putting dollies to

sleep or diving cars. But, the big issue with her playtime is it's

like she doesn't know what to do. She's very dependent upon me while I

realize that most other kids her age can play for half an hour or so

without mommy or whining for mommy; in fact, they seem to prefer it.

Recently, I've begun coaxing her into certain activities and that

helps. She usually does well taking walks and kicking the ball for 20

minutes or so at a time, but one can't do that all day, especially

with our rainy season/winter coming! LOL. It's the indoor time that we

struggle a bit with.

For now, I am having her go in her room and play by herself for set

amounts of time (20 minutes or so a few times a day), and that seems

to work somewhat. Otherwise, she would just whine and keen at my

shoulder all the time. For indoor time, I do read to her, do puzzles

with her, blow bubbles, draw with her, teach her letters and numbers,

just talk with her, tell her stories, play pretend ponies with her,

and sing etc. during the day as well in time blocks of 20 minutes or

more usually (we do all those things most every day!), so it's not

like I don't play with her. I just feel drained by the end of the day

with having to entertain her constantly (unless she's down for her

hour nap).

I'm just wondering if this lack of focus/initiative in play is common,

and what have you guys done to help your child play better alone?

Best,

October 13, 2006

Hi l,

The lack of self-initiating activity is very common and one we

struggle with (my son will be 7 in March). When he was 3 I didn't

really understand why he didn't find enjoyment in toys. I just kept

buying more thinking I wasn't getting the right ones. At least your

daughter will participate in some imaginative play and she is

receptive to the activities that you initiate. My son was not. He

is getting better with age, but prefers to watch TV. When he was 3

he wanted to watch the Baby Einstein videos over and over. His

dancing and singing were amazing so I guess he has musical talent.

Things like puzzles and riding his bike were difficult enough that

he didn't get enough enjoyment out of it to try.

I think its important to find out what they are naturally good at

and get them involved in that area. Its also very important to have

them involved and connected socially to the world around them. Its

a good idea to have them go to a regular group activity that they

can feel good about and also to go on outings just to get social

info and interaction.

It is a very long day for you, I still remember. School will break

it up and take some of the pressure off.

Take care,

Debbie Melamed

October 13, 2006

I used to have similar concerns being a Mum is tiring

full stop.

I have 2 boys who are 4 and 6 yo and I think that your

daughter's attention span and her need to have you

play with her is as much to do with her age as with

any AS/HFA issues she might have.

I used to see a lot of Mum's with 3 yos who seemed to

be very independent and run about and amuse themselves

but it's just a case of different horses for different

courses.

I'm not sure how you feel about video games but my

kids love them - as long as it doesn't become baby

sitting then I can't see what harm there is in them.

My 4 yo has a Nintendo Game Cube - very cheap right

now because the new system is coming out, he loves

Super Bros and Princess Peach games - they're

cute and kid friendly and he gets so excited when we

put them on - a cup of tea for Mum and some down time

for the kiddy wink:)

Feel better:)

a

--- lisalgreer <lisalgreer@...> wrote:

> Hi, all,

>

> Just something I'm wondering about. My daughter, 3,

> uses her

> imagination some... for tea parties and such and

> putting dollies to

> sleep or diving cars. But, the big issue with her

> playtime is it's

> like she doesn't know what to do. She's very

> dependent upon me while I

> realize that most other kids her age can play for

> half an hour or so

> without mommy or whining for mommy; in fact, they

> seem to prefer it.

> Recently, I've begun coaxing her into certain

> activities and that

> helps. She usually does well taking walks and

> kicking the ball for 20

> minutes or so at a time, but one can't do that all

> day, especially

> with our rainy season/winter coming! LOL. It's the

> indoor time that we

> struggle a bit with.

>

> For now, I am having her go in her room and play by

> herself for set

> amounts of time (20 minutes or so a few times a

> day), and that seems

> to work somewhat. Otherwise, she would just whine

> and keen at my

> shoulder all the time. For indoor time, I do read to

> her, do puzzles

> with her, blow bubbles, draw with her, teach her

> letters and numbers,

> just talk with her, tell her stories, play pretend

> ponies with her,

> and sing etc. during the day as well in time blocks

> of 20 minutes or

> more usually (we do all those things most every

> day!), so it's not

> like I don't play with her. I just feel drained by

> the end of the day

> with having to entertain her constantly (unless

> she's down for her

> hour nap).

>

> I'm just wondering if this lack of focus/initiative

> in play is common,

> and what have you guys done to help your child play

> better alone?

>

> Best,

>

__________________________________________________

October 14, 2006

Wow! My son is 3 and does the same thing. He LOVES Baby Einstein

videos. He asks for them all the time. I figured it had something

to do with his condition, but I am (for some unknown reason)

surprised to hear that other kids are the same way. He, too, is also

exceptional at doing puzzles.

>

> > Hi l,

> >

> > The lack of self-initiating activity is very common

> > and one we

> > struggle with (my son will be 7 in March). When he

> > was 3 I didn't

> >

>

> __________________________________________________

>

October 16, 2006

My daughter is almost 5 now and is just starting to initiate creative

play. It was not that she did not have an imagination, she just did

not really know what to do other than repeating what she saw on tv.

She did like to play alone though. Usually lining up toys or spinning

in circles. She has always been in daycare so she has had a lot of

structured play which helps a lot. At 3 I was so proud when she had a

tea party with her stuffed animals. But looking back she lined up

everything and did minimal creative play. Now she has tea parties

with her 22 month brother and uses her imagination more. For us it

was a combination of the gfcf diet, therapy and school. She still has

a long way to go but she is finally playing more like a 4-5 year old.

We try to get together with friends with kids the same age on the

weekends because the other children help teach play and social rules.

>

> Hi, all,

>

> Just something I'm wondering about. My daughter, 3, uses her

> imagination some... for tea parties and such and putting dollies to

> sleep or diving cars. But, the big issue with her playtime is it's

> like she doesn't know what to do. She's very dependent upon me while I

> realize that most other kids her age can play for half an hour or so

> without mommy or whining for mommy; in fact, they seem to prefer it.

> Recently, I've begun coaxing her into certain activities and that

> helps. She usually does well taking walks and kicking the ball for 20

> minutes or so at a time, but one can't do that all day, especially

> with our rainy season/winter coming! LOL. It's the indoor time that we

> struggle a bit with.

>

> For now, I am having her go in her room and play by herself for set

> amounts of time (20 minutes or so a few times a day), and that seems

> to work somewhat. Otherwise, she would just whine and keen at my

> shoulder all the time. For indoor time, I do read to her, do puzzles

> with her, blow bubbles, draw with her, teach her letters and numbers,

> just talk with her, tell her stories, play pretend ponies with her,

> and sing etc. during the day as well in time blocks of 20 minutes or

> more usually (we do all those things most every day!), so it's not

> like I don't play with her. I just feel drained by the end of the day

> with having to entertain her constantly (unless she's down for her

> hour nap).

>

> I'm just wondering if this lack of focus/initiative in play is common,

> and what have you guys done to help your child play better alone?

>

> Best,

>

October 16, 2006

Our Early intervention worker suggested that our son has trouble with creative

play because it has no set start and ending and the possibilities for what

" could " happen are far too many. She suggested choosing one of the toys that he

has, like his pirate set making up a story board for him. Using the figurines

to make up a storyline. She said to start simply with only a few pictures but

have a start and finish. And example might be 1. the pirate gets into his boat

2. the pirate sails out to an island.

3. the pirate gets out of the boat with a spade.

4. the pirate digs for treasure

5. the pirate finds treasure

6. the pirate sails home again

We tried this out. We put the pictures out in a sequence and we role played

acting it out with the toys. Isaac could do this after a few times. I left

him to play and he acted out the scene over and over again. But after a few

times he started adding in other things like a shark in the water. He still

isn't creating hude elaborate play scenes but he is starting to use the toys

more.

This method can be used with heaps of toys.

Beck

( ) Play time for AS/HFA toddlers