Early Intervention Games: Fun, Joyful Ways to Develop Social and Motor Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum or Sensory Processing Disorders [Paperback]

Barbara Sher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 26, 2009

A resource of fun games for parents or teachers to help young children learn social and motor skills

Barbara Sher, an expert occupational therapist and teacher, has written a handy resource filled with games to play with young children who have Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or other sensory processing disorders (SPD). The games are designed to help children feel comfortable in social situations and teach other basic lessons including beginning and end, spatial relationships, hand-eye coordination, and more. Games can also be used in regular classrooms to encourage inclusion.

• A collection of fun, simple games that can improve the lives of children with ASD or other SPDs.
• Games can be played by parents or teachers and with individual children or groups.
• Games are designed to make children more comfortable in social situations and to develop motor and language skills
• Also included are a variety of interactive games to play in water, whether in a backyard kiddie pool, community swimming pool, or lake
• All the games are easy-to-do, utilizing common, inexpensive materials, and include several variations and modifications

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Early Intervention Games

Children identified with Autism Spectrum or Sensory Processing Disorders are often perceived as needing to be "fixed." However, recent research suggests that what we need to do instead is play with them and help them find the joy in interacting with others. In Early Intervention Games, expert occupational therapist Barbara Sher provides a wide selection of fun and novel games to do at home or in the classroom, including a variety of games to play in water. This indispensable resource can help these unique children enhance and increase their social, motor, and sensory skills. Each game explains the lessons playfully learned and ways of modifying the games so that everyone, regardless of skill level and sensibility, can play along.

Neuroscientists now know that playing is a profound biological process that shapes and enlarges the brain; but from the children's view, it just feels good to have fun. Enjoy the positive interaction with the children in your life that you'll discover in Early Intervention Games.

Praise for Early Intervention Games

"Early Intervention Games brims with sparkling ideas to help children learn the pleasures of engaging in back and forth play. Barbara's warm advice and cool activities invite us to dive right in!"
—Carol Kranowitz, author of The Out-of-Sync Child

"Barbara Sher is gifted in her ability to weave therapy into play while deeply respecting the strengths and uniqueness of each child. In this book, she artfully explains how everyone can support challenged children through brilliantly creative yet practical, low-budget games. Her gentle, welcoming ways pull out the best in children as she shows us how to playfully play."
—Mary Sue Williams, co-author of How Does Your Engine Run? Alert Program for Self-Regulation

"Early Intervention Games takes a unique approach with its emphasis on playful activities. Barbara Sher's games and ideas are simple, fun, and wonderful tools for therapists working with children who have Sensory Processing or Autism Spectrum Disorders."
—Dr. Lucy Jane Miller Ph.D., OTR, executive director, Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation and author of Sensational Kids

About the Author

Barbara Sher, M.A., O.T.R., has more than 30 years experience as a teacher and occupational therapist, specializing in pediatrics. She conducts workshops for parents, teachers, therapists, and children around the world, and is the author of nine books, including Attention Games, Self-Esteem Games, and Extraordinary Play with Ordinary Things, which have been translated into eight languages.

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (October 26, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047039126X
• ISBN-13: 978-0470391266
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.5 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,608 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Barbara Sher, an occupational therapist for over 40 years is the author of ten books. She believes in using children's natural love of play to enhance key skills and promote inclusion. Her books include Early Intervention games, Self-Esteem games, Attention games and Spirit games.

She gives workshops nationally and internationally for teachers, parents and caregivers on these playful movement games as well as how to make learning toys out of throw-aways and recyclables. Some of the countries where she has given workshops are Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Micronesia, Figi, Nicaragua and Honduras

Barbara presently works on the Northern Mariana Islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota.

To receive a free game designed for your child's needs, visit her website www.gameslady.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Early Intervention Games--recommended for non-therapists too February 22, 2010

By Douglas Wells

Format:Paperback

This book is a great resource for professionals who work with you children identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder or Sensory Processing Disorder. The author describes her orientation to working with children without focusing on the "disorders". I read the book as a former children's developmental intervention program coordinator and social worker. Ms. Sher's approach shares social work values of a strengths perspective and person-in-environment approach. She looks at the children's strengths and interests and engages children in their peer environment.
I re-read the book from the point of view of a former pre-school teacher, parent and current grandparent. I have highlighted activities for purposeful fun and skill development with my two developmentally normal preschool-aged grandchildren.
The first two chapters should be required reading for any professionals who work young children with an exceptionality diagnosis. Also, parents of a diagnosed child would find comfort and good philosophical modeling by identifying with the author's understanding and insights into the child's perceptual world.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars not useful May 24, 2012

By sahashra

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

all the games are for groups you cannot follow on your own as parent of kid with autism. this is for school setting or group of children

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Mostly group activities.. August 7, 2011

By Jennifer Mathew

Format:Paperback

We have just received an ASD diagnosis for my 2 year and 8 month old daughter. We dont have a lot of family close by and our neighbours and friends are not too familiar with Autism. This book is good with a lot of activities for children with ASD, SPD and even Neurotypical children. However, it has its limitations in that we dont always have a group of like minded or cooperative friends who would come over for such activities. So, my chicken and egg problem is this- I would like to do a lot of the socializing activities mentioned in the book (which usually has mostly group activities), but dont have access to groups of (of even 1 or 2 )children (or even adults) who would like to participate.

Loved the book- but its mostly geared for group situations- preferably with like aged children. It could work, if you have a neighbourhood weekly games group maybe.