When play therapy and ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy are combined, they create a powerful and comprehensive approach to address various developmental and behavioral challenges in children. Play therapy involves using play as a medium to facilitate emotional expression, communication, and problem-solving, allowing children to process their feelings and experiences in a non-threatening environment. On the other hand, ABA therapy focuses on behavior modification through structured interventions, reinforcement, and data-driven analysis to teach new skills and reduce problematic behaviors effectively.
By integrating play therapy techniques into ABA sessions, therapists can make learning and behavior modification more enjoyable and engaging for children. Play-based ABA activities can help reinforce positive behaviors and provide natural opportunities for skill development. Moreover, the child’s increased motivation and enthusiasm during play improve the effectiveness of ABA interventions. The combination of these evidence-based approaches ensures a holistic and individualized treatment plan, targeting both emotional and behavioral aspects of a child’s development.
The role of a child is to play! Learning and knowledge is grounded in physical interaction with the world. When a child moves, they learn balance, coordination, endurance, core strength, visual motor integration, and social skills. Having children engage in intrinsically motivating, child-directed, active, and freely chosen activities is critical for their development.
Why is play important?
- Supports healthy brain growth and development
- Expands cognitive, emotional, social and motor skills
- Allows children to be creative and imaginative
- Enhances problem solving skills
- Helps foster independence
- Allows for opportunity to make choice
- Fosters self-esteem
- Helps manage stress
- Play-based interventions promote child interaction
- Helps form nurturing relationships with caregivers
- Sensory integration
- Sensory processing disorder (SPD)
Active Play vs. Passive Entertainment
- Active Play: The child integrates the senses when actively engaging in intrinsically motivating activity (e.g. building a train track, pedaling a bicycle).
- Passive Entertainment: The child is an observer as something else occurs around them (e.g. watching a train go around a track, riding on a power operated toy).
Passive entertainment is NOT playtime! It is important that children are engaging regularly in active play.
How can Play therapy and ABA therapy decrease my child’s sensory sensitivities?
Play therapy and ABA therapy are invaluable when addressing sensory issues in children with ASD. Through sensory-focused play activities, these evidence-based approaches foster sensory exploration, helping children with tactile sensitivities develop better sensory processing and integration. Play-based interventions offer a non-threatening environment for children to engage in tactile exploration, while ABA techniques provide structured behavioral interventions to reinforce positive responses to sensory stimuli. By combining play therapy strategies and ABA interventions, therapists can create tailored programs that address specific sensory challenges, like tactile defensiveness, and improve sensory modulation. This comprehensive approach allows children with ASD to develop crucial sensory skills, leading to enhanced sensory experiences and better overall adaptive behaviors for improved daily functioning and quality of life.
How can parents support playtime?
- Respond appropriately by matching the child’s interests, emotions, language level and sensory needs in a pressure-free environment
- Avoid asking too many questions during playtime
- Avoid giving directions – let the child lead!
Characteristics of toys to foster positive play
- Simple – Household items can be used in a variety of ways (e.g. pots/pans and a ladle or a laundry basket that functions as a pretend play castle)
- Safe and durable (age and developmentally appropriate items)
- Should encourage exploration and problem solving such as cause-and-effect toys
Common Sensory Issues Among Children with ASD
Sensory issues in children with ASD arise due to differences in sensory processing and integration. These children may experience sensory stimuli differently, leading to sensory sensitivities or challenges in effectively interpreting sensory information. Play therapy and ABA therapy prove valuable in addressing these issues, as they focus on sensory exploration and behavioral interventions to improve sensory modulation and integration.
Five common sensory issues noticed in children with ASD are:
- Tactile defensiveness: Overreacting or feeling uncomfortable to certain textures or touch sensations.
- Auditory sensitivity: Being overly sensitive to noise or sounds, leading to sensory overload.
- Visual sensitivity: Struggling with bright lights or visual patterns, causing discomfort or distraction.
- Proprioceptive challenges: Difficulty sensing body position and movements, leading to poor coordination and balance.
- Vestibular issues: Sensitivity to movement, resulting in motion sickness or aversion to swings and other activities.
