Using a Video Model to teach Play Skills

We have mentioned that teaching children with autism requires a step-by-step breakdown of the skill that we want them to learn. In our previous How To video on “Getting Attention Appropriately”, we included a short clip on how to use a Video Model to teach your child how to get attention appropriately.

The concept of using a Video Model can be applied to just about any other skill that you would like your child to learn. This includes Playtime!

Playtime isn’t just about having fun, but its about learning while having fun. More importantly, children with autism get to learn the rules in a game that typical kids pick up naturally. This is where you can teach your child to follow instructions, understand sequence, taking turns, and interacting with other through a Playtime game. And this is where the use of a Video Model will come in handy.

Here’s how it works with a Hide & Seek game.

1. Record a video of two people playing a round of Hide & Seek.
2. Replay the video for the child and point out who hides, who is the seeker, and how they do it.
3. Practice with the child where the child only plays the role of “hiding”. Do this until the child is comfortable with the concept of “hiding”. You may show the video model to the child as an example before each practice.
4. When the child understands what it means to hide, you can now practice the game this time with the child playing the role of the “seeker”. Practice this a few times until the child understands the concept of “seeking” for the person who is hiding. Again, you may show the video model to the child before each practice.
5. After the child understands the concept of hiding and seeking, you can play this game without the use of the video model and just have fun! 

Children with autism often learn best visually, and so video models are great for teaching children with autism how to play games that are interactive and involve more than just themselves and their toys. Remember, the whole idea of an interactive game is to develop their social skills in a fun and creative way.