101 Games and Activities for Children With Autism, Asperger’s and Sensory Processing Disorders [Paperback]

Tara Delaney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2009

LEARNING THROUGH PLAY

One of the best ways for children with autism, Asperger's, and sensory processing disorders to learn is through play. Children improve their motor skills, language skills, and social skills by moving their bodies and interacting with their environment. Yet the biggest challenges parents, teachers, and loved ones face with children on the autism spectrum or with sensory processing disorders is how to successfully engage them in play.

Pediatric occupational therapist Tara Delaney provides the answer. In 101 Games and Activities for Children with Autism, Asperger's, and Sensory Processing Disorders, she shows you how to teach your children by moving their bodies through play. These interactive games are quick to learn but will provide hours of fun and learning for your child. And many of the games can be played indoors or outdoors, so your child can enjoy them at home, outside, or on field trips.

More than one hundred games that help your child:

• make eye-contact, stay focused, and strengthen his or her motor skills
• associate words with objects and improve language and numerical skills
• learn how to interact with others, how to take turns, and other social skills needed for attending preschool and school

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tara Delaney M.S., OTR, is the Executive Director of Steps Therapy Inc., specializing in sensory integration, autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, as well as social skills development.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (July 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071623361
• ISBN-13: 978-0071623360
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.7 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,723 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Reference
  • #27 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Children's Health > Autism & Asperger's Syndrome
  • #32 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Family Activities

More About the Author

Tara Delaney is an occupational therapist MS OTR/L who has been practicing for more than twenty years. She has advanced training and education in the practices of sensory integration, therapeutic listening, visual-perception, and visual-vestibular integration. Tara holds joint Bachelors of Science degrees from the University of Texas and the University of Texas Health Science Center in Biology and Occupational Therapy. She went on to conduct research at the Harry Harlow Primate Lab at the University of Wisconsin, Madison while obtaining a Masters of Science in Therapeutic Science. Tara then interned in pediatrics at The Waisman Center, where she gained experience at the cerebral palsy, autism, and genetics clinics, as well as in local public schools. It was there that Tara first saw the benefits of working collaboratively with speech pathologists, early educators, physical therapists, psychologists, and physicians. She was also part of a leadership training program sponsored by The Mother and Child Welfare Grant through The Waisman Center in Madison.

Tara founded BabySteps in 1998, which served schools with occupational therapy needs in the Austin, Texas area. BabySteps was reestablished in Sacramento, California in 2002 with a continued focus on serving local area schools. In the years that followed, BabySteps expanded rapidly to offer speech therapy, educational psychology, and school nursing. It is now an award-winning and thriving practice. On top of running her own business, Tara is an active occupational therapist specializing in sensory integration, autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities. She is commissioned regularly by school systems to work closely with early education teachers on ideas to promote integrated learning environments in the classroom. She has developed programs that incorporate the developmental and educational needs of school children.

Tara regularly conducts seminars on sensory integration, child development, autism, and behavioral issues for school systems as well as for parent and therapy organizations. She is a member of the National Occupational Therapy Association, the Occupational Therapy Association of California, Sensory Integration International, and the International Adoption Family Network Organization.

Tara lives in Sacramento, California with her husband, Bill, and their two children, Maggie and Liam. She enjoys listening to NPR, reading books, wine tasting with friends, traveling, and, of course, playing with kids!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource for Special Child in Your Life! October 1, 2009

By Matt Robinson

Format:Paperback

My nephew was diagnosed on the autism spectrum a few years ago, and I've been trying to find ways to play with him ever since. This book contains plenty of clearly explained games and activities that are fun for me and my nephew. I like that the book is organized by developmental area, too. For example, my nephew's occupational therapist and teacher told our family that he needs to work on fine motor skills, so I just turned to that chapter of the book for inspiration!

I hope this book can help you as much as it helped me. There's a lot of good stuff in here for $12.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent resource for parents and teachers March 9, 2010

By Midwest Book Review

Format:Paperback

"101 Games and Activities for Children with Autism, Asperger's, and Sensory Processing Disorders" is a compendium of practical games, exercises, and activities specially chosen or designed to enhance sensory integration and development in children with sensory processing disorders. The games are interactive, easy stimulating, and fun. Best of all, they will help the child to grow, learn social skills, and communicate. The model used by author Tara Delaney (M.S., OTR) is partially described as "Using three-dimensional learning as a way of imprinting preacademic and academic concepts in your child's repertoire of information will increase your child's opportunity for success in the classroom (p.138)." The book is divided into 10 chapters covering such areas as engagement, sensory development, gross and fine motor skills, communication, social sense, school readiness, home activities, outdoor activities, and adapting brand-name games. All the play-game activities are presented in a compact format that highlights aspects including whether the game is indoor/outdoor, equipment, how (first and second levels), purpose, and why. An excellent explanation of the Brain Library in the introduction explains the different areas of the brain catalogued for different types of learning, and how best to access them. Fundamental to Delaney's teaching philosophy is the discovery that "play has (an infinite) power to teach, develop, and connect children to the world (p. viii)." "101 Games and Activities for Children with Autism, Asperger's, and Sensory Processing Disorders" is an excellent resource for parents, teachers, and caretakers of children with sensory processing disorders.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars I liked this book November 7, 2009

By Traci A. Wihlen

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a nice book but there were not a lot of games under each section. I would recommend it more for home use.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars For high functioning autism March 6, 2013

By Christine Debourse

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This books has great activities for any typical child, but not for kids who are non-verbal or very low in their communication skills.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Practical and well laid out June 7, 2012

By Adrienne P. Robertiello

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Great job by Tara Delaney for putting together such a great play-based book. Many parents, and professionals, are often at a loss for ideas when looking for purposeful ways to interact with children with ASD and other related disorders. I like the way the author broke down activities by sensory development, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, communication, social sense, school ready, home activities, and outdoor activities. A great addition was how she dedicated chapter on adapting brand-name games... so that a child could play traditional games in a modified way. My review would have been higher, but I feel the book lacks ideas for those on the spectrum with more severe, cognitive challenges. These parents, including myself, are looking for similar activities, but are often disappointed when the child is not an assumed level of understanding or functioning. So, as a result there is a great loss of interactive play in the home/social environments for these families. If Ms. Delaney took on this challenge in authoring another book of this caliber for that population, it would get 5 stars from me!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars amazing and very useful November 24, 2011

By Guillermo M Gallardo

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

very interesting and useful, it helped me and is easy to understand; very valuable for my kid, it explain step by step how we can help and open new windows to our kids

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars VERY INSPIRING AND MOTIVATING July 11, 2011

By Kim R.

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

My child has a significant global delay and I struggle with how to engage in him or just how to "play" with him. This book gives some really fun ideas that help with developing fine and gross motor skills. I'm sure that other skills are being improved as well. I'm happy with my purchase.

4.0 out of 5 stars Purchased for daughter February 24, 2013

By paula corrin

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I purchased this for my daughter to help her with my newly diagnosed granddaughter. She found this book helpful in understanding what is going on with my granddaughter and how to deal with some difficult situations that she was not able to find ways to successfully handle.