Book Review

I keep saying I'm going to get around to it, and finally I have! My first book review. Forgive me though, it's been about 15 years since I've done one of these and I don't believe I even remember how. So no critiques of my critique please! If you've read the book though, please feel free to add your own review or comments in the comments section. I'd love to know what other people thought.

Motivate to Communicate: 300 Games and Activities for Your Child with Autism
by Simone Griffin and Dianne Sandler

I'm going to put the cart before the horse here and just say that this is a fabulous book chock block full of ideas and resources for working with children with autism. The authors, Simone Griffin, a speech and language therapist, and Dianne Sandler, a specialist teacher, both have years of experience working with kids with autism. And it shows! They take into account children's sensory issues and needs, as well as the child's level of communication ability (which can range from completely non-verbal, to relatively "normal").

First and foremost, this book shows parents how they can create communication opportunities throughout the day, with very little planning of set-up involved. Keeping desired objects (toys, books, DVDs, food, etc...) out of reach or in difficult-to-open containers forces (in a good way!) an autistic child to interact with their parent/therapist/caregiver in order to get what they want. Doing something unexpected (like having the child's sibling get in the bathtub with their socks on) or using "creative stupidity" (i.e. doing something intentionally to get a reaction, but pretending it's a mistake) encourages the child to comment or communicate in whatever way they can that they know something's different or not right. This section of the book, though short, is probably my favorite. I think that we, as parents, can get so caught up in our busy lives (especially when you're in the midst of so many doctor and therapy appointments) that you can over look these learning and communication opportities so easily. By being mindful of how to take advantage of every day happenings, you're able to work in so many communication opportunities so easily!

And that's just the introduction!!!

The rest of the book is full of the 300 specific ways you can motivate kids to engage and communicate. Chapter 1 is Motivate Me with Food. You can use different foods, from bread and toast to spaghetti and jello to do little activities that teach things like simple instructions, teach concepts (such as yes/no, big/little, long/short, shapes, colours, etc...), and experience food in a way that is not negative (which is too often the case for kids with autism). My only concern with this chapter is that it relies heavily on foods that would be in a gluten-free diet (breads, pastas, flours). Luckily there are still plenty of other suggestions, and other chapters.

Chapter 2 is Motivate Me with "Party Toys". Party toys include things like bubbles, balloons, slinkies, balls, cars, wind-up toys, magnetic toys, spinning toys, vibrating toys, light up toys, and stretchy and squishy toys. Many of these toys are very motivating, especially for kids who need lots of sensory stimulation. These are your typical dollar store fare. Which I tend to really dislike. I'm personally not a fan of cheap, made in China, decorated with questionable paint toys. Or ones with batteries that are at all accessible. But there are better options out there. And if you're worried about the quality/safety of certain toys that your child just LOVES, then you can always put them in a box on a high shelf and bring them out only during therapy or one-on-one play time with a parent/caregiver/therapist.

Chapter 3 is Motivate Me with Social Games. These games typically require engaging with other children or adults on some level. Hide-and-seek, pass-the-parcel, tag, musical chairs, and "I spy", are some typical examples. I love this chapter because you learn how you can help your child interact and play more with other kids. Many of the games may be beyond your child's current abilities, but there are things you can do to help them or even practice ahead of time.

Chapter 4 is Motivate Me with Outside Games. This chapter is full of ideas on how to use outside play time to encourage communication. I'm so glad they included this in the book, because I think that too often parents, caregivers and therapists can rely on structured indoor therapy. But these are KIDS! They need to get outside and run around and just play! Many kids with autism are VERY active (like Jesse) and this is really a necessity. The activities in this chapter include play with sand, water, snow, and messy things (like slime/goop, sawdust, soap flakes, etc...).

The last chapter, Chapter 5, is Motivate Me at Home and School. This chapter focuses on using toys and other things that you already have in your home or at your child's school. Like puzzles, books, and shape sorters. The possibilities are nearly endless. My favorite from this chapter is the Mr. Potato Head. We just picked one up for Jesse and he LOVES it! Such a great tool to use.

Also awesome about this book is the list of online resources, including internet businesses that sell toys for kids with disabilities, and websites that have information on autism and communication. Many of the sites are based in the UK, but they're still immensely helpful.

Overall, I'm really pleased with this book. I think it's a great resource and I think that every family affected by autism should have one, as should anyone who works with kids with autism. Actually, I think it would be a great book for anyone with a child with  a speech/communication delay. Many of the strategies seem like they would lend themselves well to working with neurotypical children as well.