Research summaries for autism therapy: toy

definition of toy: Any object that is used for play. Toys can be made specifically for play or objects can be used as representation. For example, folded paper can be used to make a toy plane. Materials that make toys can be hard like blocks to stack or soft like a stuffed animal. Toys bring enjoyment and comfort.

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Video modeling may be a useful tool for stopping problem behaviors as well as teaching skills to children with autism.

This study looked to see if video modeling could help children with autism learn to stop what they are doing and clean up a toy. The three children in the study had good classroom behavior even before the study began. Two of the three children were able to generalize from the toy seen in the video to other toys. The third child had the most problem behaviors going into the study and he also had the most trouble learning from the videos. The authors note that videos are good because they can be made for each child to meet the needs of each child.

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Behavioral therapy may help children with autism learn verbal and nonverbal ways to start a social interaction.

People with autism may have problems initiating (starting) a social interaction.... For one boy, the therapist used toys that could show a response (e.g., singing stuffed animal or piano with lights). When the boy did the right behavior, the therapist would make the toy react and the boy liked that.... Read more...

Robots and technological toys may help teach social skills to children with autism. Researchers used special blocks that worked like mini-robots. The blocks changed color depending on which other blocks they were close to. The blocks were used as a therapy tool with twelve children (3-5 years old) with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).... Read more...

Future research may allow therapists to know in advance which type of applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy) is most likely to work for any given child with autism.... Children who liked toys were more likely to respond to pivotal response training than children who did not like toys.... Read more...


Synonyms for toy include: educational toys, toys
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