Peer Play and the Autism Spectrum: The Art of Guiding Children's Socialization and Imagination. Integrated Play Groups Field Manual

Teach children with autism to play using this evidence-based curriculum!

Many children on the autism spectrum spend inordinate amounts of time alone. Without appropriate intervention, they are especially vulnerable to being excluded from their peer group and leading impoverished play lives.

This practical guide, Peer Play and the Autism Spectrum The Art of Guiding Children's Socialization and Imagination, offers an introduction to the basic principles, tools and techniques that comprise the Integrated Play Groups model. Pamela Wolfberg essentially translates theory into effective and meaningful practice, giving practitioners, parents and other caregivers the tools to initiate peer play groups for children in school, home and community settings.

Table of Contents

Prologue i

Phase I Embracing the Spirit of Play: IPG Conceptual Foundation

1. Nature of Play and the Autism Spectrum 3
• Autism Spectrum Disorders in a Nutshell 4
• Developmental Play Patterns and Variations 7
• Peer Cultural Influences on Children's Play 16
2. Making Play a Priority 19
• What Is Play? 20
• Play's Prominent Role in Childhood 22
• The Art of Guiding Peer Play 26
• Essential Features of the IPG Model 28

Phase II Setting the Stage for Play: IPG Program and Environmental Design

3. Planning Integrated Play Groups 37
• Deciding if Integrated Play Groups Are Appropriate for a Child 39
• Initiating the Process 39
• Formulating an Integrated Play Groups Action Plan 41
• Team Planning 43
• Designating Roles and Responsibilities 43
• Other Planning Issues 46
4. Gathering and Preparing the Players 49
• Group Composition 50
• Choosing Compatible Players 52
• Recruiting the Players 55
• Autism--Diversity Awareness 58
• Play Group Orientation 63
5. Preparing the Play Setting 67
• Choosing a Suitable Venue 68
• Designing Play Areas 70
• Selecting Play Materials 73
• Suggested Play Materials 76
6. Structuring the Play Session 83
• Establishing a Schedule 84
• Play Group Rules 86
• Opening and Closing Rituals 86
• Fostering a Group Identity 92
• Phase II Hands-On Activities--Tools and Field Exercises 97
• Design Tools
• IPG Action Plan 100
• IPG Program and Environmental Design Evaluation 101
• Field Exercises 1-9 103

Phase III Observing Children at Play: IPG Assessment

7. Conducting Quality Assessments 115
• Key Elements of the IPG Assessment Approach 116
• IPG Observation Framework 118
• IPG Assessments 124
• Phase III Hands-On Activities--Tools and Field Exercises 141
• Assessment Tools
• Play Questionnaire 144
• Play Preference Inventory 148
• IPG Observation 149
• Profile of Individual Play Development 150
• Record of Monthly Progress in IPG 151
• Integrated Play Groups Summative Report 152
• Field Exercises 10-11 155

Phase IV Guided Participation in Play: IPG Intervention

8. Monitoring Play Initiations 161
• Stepping into the Role of Play Guide 164
• Recognizing Play Initiations 167
• Interpreting Play Initiations 167
• Responding to Play Initiations 168
9. Scaffolding Play 171
• Maximum Support--Directing and Modeling 174
• Intermediate Support--Verbal and Visual Cueing 176
• Minimum Support--Standing By 178
10. Social-Communication Guidance 181
• Social-Communication Cues 182
• Selecting Relevant Cues 183
• Customizing Visual Cue Cards and Posters 184
• Introducing Social-Communication Cues 188
• Reinforcing Social-Communication Cues 189
11. Play Guidance 193
• Orienting 194
• Imitation-Mirroring 196
• Parallel Play 197
• Joint Focus 197
• Joint Action 198
• Role Enactment 199
• Role-Playing 200
12. Case Illustrations of Children at Play 203
• Luna's Play 204
• Max's Play 206
• Paulo's Play 209
• Phase IV Hands-On Activities--Tools and Field Exercises 214
• Intervention Tools
• Guided Participation Evaluation 216
• Self-Reflection Log for IPG Guides 217
• Field Exercises 12-14 219
• Epilogue 223

Appendices

• Appendix A Autism Institute on Peer Relations and Play--Center for Integrated Play Groups 227
• Appendix B Efficacy of the Integrated Play Groups Model: Research Highlights 231
• Appendix C Resources 241

References 253

Index 261

"The Integrated Play Groups (IPG) model draws on multiple theoretical perspectives, current research, and best practices to provide opportunities for children with autism to experience and learn within the culture of ALL children - play. This field manual provides abundant guidelines and details to implement the play groups in a variety of settings. This is a wonderful resource for families and professionals. A 'must' for anyone who is interested in supporting the peer play experience of children with autism."
- Jane R. Wegner, PhD, director, Schiefelbusch Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, Intercampus Program in Communicative Disorders, University of Kansas

"This is a wonderful user-friendly resource for parents and educators who understand that quality intervention for young children with autism must include play! Based on award-winning research, Pamela Wolfberg offers practical guidelines for developing Integrated Play Groups. Her assessment, hands-on activities, and detailed strategies give us the tools we need to build fun and meaningful play opportunities for children. This book is another 'must have' on my short list of recommended resources."
- Kathleen Quill, PhD, Autism Institute, Boston, Massachusetts

"Here is finally a book about developing social and imaginative play - not only play skills - in children with autism. Pamela Wolfberg beautifully lays out the importance of social and peer play in the lives of all children, and clearly and comprehensively describes the means to foster the development of social communication and play for children with autism who most need it. The descriptions of the steps involved are so clear and easy to follow, and the resources provided are so rich and specific that the easy implementation of the IPG model hides the wealth of information and depth of experience that is distilled into this book."
- Mimi W. Lou, PhD, clinical director, Children's Hospital Autism Intervention (CHAI), Children's Hospital & Research Center, Oakland, California

"The Integrated Play Groups (IPG) model draws on multiple theoretical perspectives, current research, and best practices to provide opportunities for children with autism to experience and learn within the culture of ALL children - play. This field manual provides abundant guidelines and details to implement the play groups in a variety of settings. This is a wonderful resource for families and professionals. A 'must' for anyone who is interested in supporting the peer play experience of children with autism."
- Jane R. Wegner, PhD, director, Schiefelbusch Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, Intercampus Program in Communicative Disorders, University of Kansas

"This is a wonderful user-friendly resource for parents and educators who understand that quality intervention for young children with autism must include play! Based on award-winning research, Pamela Wolfberg offers practical guidelines for developing Integrated Play Groups. Her assessment, hands-on activities, and detailed strategies give us the tools we need to build fun and meaningful play opportunities for children. This book is another 'must have' on my short list of recommended resources."
- Kathleen Quill, PhD, Autism Institute, Boston, Massachusetts

"Here is finally a book about developing social and imaginative play - not only play skills - in children with autism. Pamela Wolfberg beautifully lays out the importance of social and peer play in the lives of all children, and clearly and comprehensively describes the means to foster the development of social communication and play for children with autism who most need it. The descriptions of the steps involved are so clear and easy to follow, and the resources provided are so rich and specific that the easy implementation of the IPG model hides the wealth of information and depth of experience that is distilled into this book."
- Mimi W. Lou, PhD, clinical director, Children's Hospital Autism Intervention (CHAI), Children's Hospital & Research Center, Oakland, California

"The Integrated Play Groups (IPG) model draws on multiple theoretical perspectives, current research, and best practices to provide opportunities for children with autism to experience and learn within the culture of ALL children - play. This field manual provides abundant guidelines and details to implement the play groups in a variety of settings. This is a wonderful resource for families and professionals. A 'must' for anyone who is interested in supporting the peer play experience of children with autism."
- Jane R. Wegner, PhD, director, Schiefelbusch Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, Intercampus Program in Communicative Disorders, University of Kansas

"This is a wonderful user-friendly resource for parents and educators who understand that quality intervention for young children with autism must include play! Based on award-winning research, Pamela Wolfberg offers practical guidelines for developing Integrated Play Groups. Her assessment, hands-on activities, and detailed strategies give us the tools we need to build fun and meaningful play opportunities for children. This book is another 'must have' on my short list of recommended resources."
- Kathleen Quill, PhD, Autism Institute, Boston, Massachusetts

"Here is finally a book about developing social and imaginative play - not only play skills - in children with autism. Pamela Wolfberg beautifully lays out the importance of social and peer play in the lives of all children, and clearly and comprehensively describes the means to foster the development of social communication and play for children with autism who most need it. The descriptions of the steps involved are so clear and easy to follow, and the resources provided are so rich and specific that the easy implementation of the IPG model hides the wealth of information and depth of experience that is distilled into this book."
- Mimi W. Lou, PhD, clinical director, Children's Hospital Autism Intervention (CHAI), Children's Hospital & Research Center, Oakland, California

"If you are working to support students on the playground, in after-school programs, or just in the context of daily social interactions in the classroom, you need this book. It is filled with great ideas for teaching new skills, helping students learn about play, and creating inclusive social opportunities in general."
- Paula

"Practical and useful every day in my early intervention program. VERY helpful"
- Pj B.