Play and Imagination in Children with Autism (Special Education Series) [Paperback]

Pamela J. Wolfberg (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Teachers College Press (March 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080773814X
• ISBN-13: 978-0807738146
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,837,319 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a how-to manual :(, June 12, 2001

By 

"voyagerfan" (Potomac Falls, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Play and Imagination in Children with Autism (Special Education Series) (Paperback)

An interesting book about the author's experience with integrated play groups, but I was hoping for more of a how-to about setting up such playdates/groups myself with my mildly autistic son and typically developing kids around the neighborhood, etc...

There are only three case studies too, making this book more valuable to teachers than parents, because if your child isn't similar to one of the three cases, then the book won't be as relevant.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Intended for Parents, November 9, 2005

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Learning All The Time "It's Never Too Late to... (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Play and Imagination in Children with Autism (Special Education Series) (Paperback)

This book is interesting and has useful information about one teacher's experience with integrated playgroups in an academic setting, but it is written like an academic thesis or research paper rather than a layman's book. It will not teach you how to set up playdates in your home or how to structure a playdate so your child will play with other children.

For those hoping for a how-to book with guidelines for setting up playdates and teaching playskills to autistic children, I recommend you look at Melinda Smith's website and/or book, "Teaching Playskills to Children with ASD" which has lots of advice and ideas for teaching basic playskills.

For another book which emphasizes the importance of play and how to use play to improve a child's cognitive and emotional skills, I recommend you peruse "The Child With Special Needs" by Stanley Greenspan. This book gives parents lots of practical ideas for trying to engage an unresponsive child, establishing 2-way communication, helping a child understanding feelings and ideas, and helping a child to think logically.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A "must have" for teachers., September 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Play and Imagination in Children with Autism (Special Education Series) (Paperback)

...It is very thorough and gives insights to help betterunderstand how and why children with autism play the way they tend to, and, how to break them out of unproductive/unhealthy play habits. A very good book!