Social Skills for kids on the spectrum

An interesting article on autism by Moira Lewis, MS, CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist, is worth a read.  She discusses how children with ASD (autism spectrum disorders) can be helped to develop social skills through therapy, peer mentors and social stories.

Please know that Discovery Toys is very interested in children on the spectrum, as you can see by the codes a - f on the toys listed in our catalog.  The 6 skills generally lacking in children with autism are shown here.  Once you identify the child's areas of weakness, you can use that code to find toys that will be helpful.  For example, a child who has difficulty talking about their play experiences, code "d," may benefit from Item #2240, Flip Flop Faces- Emotions in Motion. Playing with Flip Flop Faces, children begin to understand facial expressions while they develop gross motor skills and coordination. The game encourages cooperative play, color and word recognition, and social awareness. Includes 6 target bowls and 6 bean bags labeled with emotions that add up to one great party game. The DT Activity Guide is in English & French.  For French speakers, #2185 is the French version of the same game.

Billie talks toys with James Piecowye

Take a listen to my radio interview with James Piecowye, professor of communication and media sciences at Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates. He hosts a popular talk radio show called Nightline in Dubai.