We were so impressed with the quality and practicality of Embracing Play that for the first time, Woodbine House adds a video to our Special-Needs Collection. Embracing Play teaches parents how to keep a child with autism engaged through what comes naturally to most children---play. Playing is the doorway for a parent and young child with autism to connect and communicate. And this video gives parents a way to open that doorway. For a child with autism, interactions with people and objects such as toys can be very difficult or atypical. This video is an ideal tool for parents of newly diagnosed children waiting to begin a formal program such as ABA or for parents and therapists who want to supplement an ongoing course of therapy.

Embracing Play shows dozens of play sessions between parent or professional and child. Using a technique called “Object Focused Play,” developed by the Behavioral Intervention Association, the video teaches parents how to use toys to capture a child’s attention and initiate learning. Very easy-to-follow, these scenes allow parents to replicate the same play activities at home, and begin to help their child interact with people and objects in their surrounding environment. 

Embracing Play opens up new avenues of interaction and learning for children with autism. The benefits of these play skills pave the way for communication and social development.


 

NEW! The New Language of Toys Teaching Communication Skills to Children with Special Needs A Guide for Parents and Teachers Third Edition Sue Schwartz, Ph.D.

 

2004 iParenting Media Award Winner

Many young children with special needs experience language delays and need additional help to build language skills. What better way to encourage communication development than through play? The completely updated third edition of THE NEW LANGUAGE OF TOYS, a perennial favorite of parents, speech-language pathologists, and early interventionists, offers a plan for doing just that.

The new edition presents sixty-five new toys and accompanying toy dialogs to use with children with a wide range of special needs from birth through age six. These sample toy dialogs show parents how to play purposefully with their child--using store-bought and homemade toys--to provide language learning opportunities and stimulate language development. The exercises are fun and educational, too, as parents help their child build receptive language skills (understanding), expressive language skills (communicating), and speech.

THE NEW LANGUAGE OF TOYS is organized by language developmental ages and each section includes:

• toy dialogs
• numerous photographs
• a toy list
• a list of suggested vocabulary and communication concepts
• children’s book bibliography
• a checklist to track progress

In addition, this book provides important background information about language, its sequential development, the causes of language delays, and how play can enhance language development. It also explains the use of videos, DVDs, television, and the computer as language enhancers. The resource lists are extensive, offering toy manufacturers and catalogs, support organizations, children’s book information, and suggested materials for homemade toys.

With THE NEW LANGUAGE OF TOYS, parents can help their children make gains in their language development and have an enjoyable and rewarding experience while doing it. It’s also a great tool for collaboration between parents and professionals.