Play is an important part of a child’s development. It helps them learn about the world around them and develop essential skills. While there are many benefits to play, did you know that you can also use play to help your child learn? Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention (NDBI) programs, such as Project ImPACT*, offer some easy, effective and evidence-based strategies that parents can use to do just that! For example, here are 5 simple ways to maximize teaching opportunities and language development with your children during play:
In summary, there are five great ways to maximize learning during play for your child: following your child’s lead, imitating what your child is doing, using animation, modeling communication, and expanding communication. All these strategies help children learn new information about the world around them, increase their communication skills, and extend the length of time they spend in play. Try incorporating one or more of these strategies into your next play session with your child and see how it goes!
To learn more about Project ImPACT, click here.
If you’d like more information on KGH Autism Services or need to contact us, click here.
*Ingersoll, B., & Christina, W. (2009). Increasing generalizations through the use of parent-mediated interventions. Real Life, Real Progress: A Practical Guide for Parents and Professional on Generalization for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing Company, 173-194.