Teaching Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Willis, Clarissa

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0876590083 ISBN 13: 9780876590089

Publisher: Gryphon House,U.S., 2006

What do you do when a three-year-old with autism falls on the floor kicking and screaming? How do you communicate with a child who looks away and flaps his hands? Who can you turn to for help if you suspect a child in your care is autistic? "Teaching Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder" is a straightforward, easy-to-understand guide to working with autistic children. It explains the major characteristics associated with autism and helps teachers and parents understand how these children relate to the world. Each chapter offers specific strategies for adults to use, including helping children learn life skills, managing behaviour, two-way communication, play, interaction, and working with families. This volume will help teachers and parents connect with all children in meaningful ways, allowing those with autism to learn and grow.

From the Back Cover:

What do you do when a three-year-old with autism falls on the floor kicking and screaming?

How do you communicate with a child who looks away and flaps his hands?

Who can help if you suspect a child in your class has autism?

Preschool can be overwhelming for a child with autism. Autism affects how a child communicates, behaves, and relates to others. Teachers need to know what they can do to help children with autism reach their full potential.

Teaching Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder is a straightforward, easy-to-understand guide to working with children who have autism. It explains the major characteristics associated with autism and helps teachers understand the ways children with autism relate to the world. Each chapter offers specific strategies for teachers to use, including setting up a proactive preschool environment, helping children learn life skills, managing behavior, helping children with autism communicate, encouraging children with autism to play, helping them to get along with others, and working with families. Teaching Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder helps teachers connect with all children in meaningful ways, allowing children with autism to learn and grow.

Chapters Include:

• Putting All the Pieces Together: Understanding This Puzzle Called Autism
• From Hand-Flapping to Obsession with Routines: The Way Children With Autism Relate to Their World
• Planning for Success: Setting Up a Proactive Preschool Environment Learning Life Skills
• Misbehavior or Missed Communication: Managing the Behaviors of Children With Autism
• Signs, Symbols, and Language: Helping a Child Communicate
• Inside Their Own World: Encouraging Children With Autism to Play
• Building Social Skills: Getting Along With Others
• Lights! Camera! Action! Sensory Integration and Autism
• We're All in This Together: Teaming Up With Families

About the Author:

Clarissa Willis, Ph.D. has been working in the field of early childhood education for more than 20 years. Clarissa is a frequent keynote speaker and presenter at regional and national early childhood conferences. Her articles on child development and early childhood special education have been published both nationally and internationally.