"Playing with Toys" Real Look Autism Episode 5

reallookautism

24 Jul 201106:42

Summary

TLDRIn this video, Renee Dunn, Marcus's grandmother, learns strategies from speech-language pathologist Jenny Sharpless to better engage with Marcus, who is on the autism spectrum. The focus is on 'tuning in' to Marcus's interests, imitating his play, and simplifying language to facilitate communication. By joining in his play, using clear vocabulary, and expanding language gradually, Marcus shows progress in interaction and begins to verbalize words. The video emphasizes the importance of simple, meaningful play and positioning for better connection and learning.

Takeaways

👵 Marcus is an affectionate child on the autism spectrum, and his grandmother Renee plays a significant role in his care while his parents work.
🔍 Marcus initially did not talk and showed little interest in playing with others, which was a concern for his family.
🌟 Jenny Sharpless, a speech-language pathologist, emphasizes the importance of 'tuning in' to Marcus's interests and imitating his actions as a strategy for interaction.
🧩 The first activity involves a puzzle where Marcus's grandmother is encouraged to play alongside him, rather than just watching, to foster a more engaging interaction.
🤝 The change in play style, from watching to participating, immediately made the play more fun and encouraged Marcus to take turns and communicate more.
💬 Jenny advises against using generic language and suggests focusing on key vocabulary related to the toys, such as colors, numbers, and action words.
📚 By simplifying language and joining in play, Marcus's engagement increased, and he began to speak words, which was a significant development.
👀 The importance of face-to-face interaction is highlighted to facilitate better communication and connection with Marcus.
🚗 Imitation is key in play; having your own toy to mirror Marcus's actions helps in building rapport without taking away his toy.
📈 The strategy of expanding language by adding to Marcus's words, like saying 'cargo' or 'go car,' helps in enriching his vocabulary.
👍 Positioning is crucial for making eye contact and sharing smiles, which are important for building a connection and encouraging social interaction.
🎈 The script underscores that simple, old-fashioned play and turn-taking can be highly effective in engaging children with autism, without the need for complex strategies or technology.

Q & A

Who is Marcus and what is his condition?
-Marcus is a child who is described as very loving and affectionate. He is on the autism spectrum, which means he has a developmental disorder affecting communication and behavior.
Who is Renee Dunn and what is her relationship to Marcus?
-Renee Dunn is Marcus's grandmother. She watches over Marcus while his parents are at work.
What is the main challenge Marcus faces in communication?
-Marcus initially struggles with verbal communication, not talking or saying any words, and shows frustration when he cannot communicate effectively.
Who is Jenny Sharpless and what is her role?
-Jenny Sharpless is a speech and language pathologist working at the Kennedy Krieger Center for Autism and Related Disorders. She is helping Marcus with his communication skills.
What is the primary strategy Jenny suggests for working with Marcus?
-The primary strategy suggested by Jenny is 'tuning in' to what Marcus is interested in and imitating his actions during play to engage him and encourage communication.
How does Jenny recommend changing the way Renee plays with Marcus?
-Jenny advises Renee to become a play partner with Marcus, actively participating in the activities he enjoys rather than just watching him play.
What is the importance of simplifying language when interacting with Marcus?
-Simplifying language helps Marcus to better understand and engage in the interaction. It allows for clearer communication and makes it easier for him to pick up and use new words.
What is the significance of using action words and numbers in play with Marcus?
-Using action words and numbers taps into Marcus's interests and helps to reinforce learning. It provides a context for him to understand and use these words in a meaningful way.
How does imitating Marcus's play with the puzzle help in his learning process?
-Imitating Marcus's play allows him to see that he is being understood and valued. It encourages him to engage more and start using words, as seen when he begins to say 'go'.
What is the 'expanding' strategy mentioned by Jenny and how can it be applied?
-The 'expanding' strategy involves building upon the language and actions that Marcus is already using. For example, if he says 'go', the adult can say 'go car' to introduce new vocabulary in a familiar context.
Why is positioning important when interacting with Marcus?
-Positioning is important for facilitating eye contact and shared smiles, which are crucial for building a connection and encouraging communication.
What does Jenny suggest about the use of technology and toys in play?
-Jenny suggests that while technology is prevalent, it's the simple, old-fashioned play and taking turns that can be most beneficial for children like Marcus, as it promotes interaction and learning.

Outlines

00:00

👵 Grandmother's Role in Marcus's Development

This paragraph introduces Marcus, a child on the autism spectrum, and his grandmother Renee Dunn who plays a crucial role in his care while his parents work. Marcus is described as loving and affectionate but struggles with communication and social interaction. Renee seeks help from Jenny Sharpless, a speech-language pathologist at the Kennedy Krieger Center for Autism and Related Disorders. The focus is on engaging Marcus by tuning into his interests and imitating his play, which is a strategy to help him communicate and connect better. The session demonstrates how adjusting play techniques can lead to more interactive and meaningful engagement with Marcus.

05:02

🚗 Enhancing Play and Communication with Marcus

The second paragraph delves into the strategy of expanding language and play with Marcus. It emphasizes the importance of positioning and eye contact to facilitate communication. The use of simple language and focusing on key vocabulary related to the toys, such as 'go' and 'car', is highlighted as a way to encourage Marcus to use words. The paragraph also touches on the joy of traditional play in an era dominated by technology and the effectiveness of joining in the child's activities to promote learning and enjoyment. The summary concludes with a reflection on the simplicity of the strategies used and their significant impact on Marcus's engagement and language development.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Autism Spectrum

Autism Spectrum refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. In the video, Marcus is described as being on the autism spectrum, which provides context for the communication and interaction strategies being discussed and implemented by his grandmother and the speech-language pathologist.

💡Speech-Language Pathologist

A speech-language pathologist is a professional trained to assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, fluency, and voice disorders. In the script, Jenny Sharpless is a speech-language pathologist working at the Kennedy Krieger Center for Autism and Related Disorders, guiding Marcus's grandmother on how to interact and communicate effectively with him.

💡Tuning In

Tuning in is a strategy used to engage with children, particularly those with autism, by joining in their activities and interests. The video emphasizes the importance of tuning in to Marcus's interests as the primary strategy for enhancing communication and interaction, as demonstrated when the pathologist asks Marcus's grandmother to observe and imitate his play.

💡Imitation

Imitation is a key concept in child development and is particularly important for children with autism. It involves copying the actions or behaviors of others. In the video, the pathologist suggests that Marcus's grandmother should imitate his play with the puzzle to become a more effective play partner and to encourage Marcus to engage and communicate.

💡Play Partner

A play partner is someone who engages in play activities with a child. The video script highlights the importance of becoming a play partner with Marcus, rather than just watching him, as a way to foster interaction and communication. This is exemplified when the grandmother is encouraged to actively participate in the puzzle play.

💡Communication Frustration

Communication frustration refers to the difficulty and emotional distress experienced by individuals, especially those with autism, when they are unable to effectively express themselves or understand others. Marcus's inability to communicate is mentioned as a source of frustration, which the strategies discussed in the video aim to address.

💡Vocabulary

Vocabulary in this context refers to the words and terms used in communication. The video script discusses the importance of selecting key vocabulary from play activities to facilitate language development in Marcus. For instance, the pathologist suggests focusing on action words like 'put in' and 'take out', and considering colors or numbers as potential vocabulary.

💡Expansion

Expansion is a strategy used in language development where a child's utterances are built upon by an adult to extend their language use. In the script, the concept of expansion is introduced as a way to enrich Marcus's language by adding words like 'cargo' or 'go car' to his simple 'go', helping him to develop more complex language patterns.

💡Positioning

Positioning in the context of the video refers to the physical arrangement or orientation of the people involved in play to facilitate interaction. The script mentions the importance of positioning for making eye contact and sharing smiles more easily, which is crucial for building rapport and communication with Marcus.

💡Traditional Play

Traditional play involves simple, non-technological activities such as playing with toys and engaging in imaginative activities. The video script contrasts traditional play with the use of technology, emphasizing the value of engaging in old-fashioned play to promote interaction, communication, and learning, as seen in Marcus's enjoyment of playing with the car and puzzle.

Highlights

Marcus, a child on the autism spectrum, is described as loving and affectionate by his grandmother Renee Dunn.

Marcus initially shows reluctance to engage in play with others and struggles with communication.

Jenny Sharpless, a speech language pathologist, introduces strategies to improve interaction with Marcus.

The first strategy is 'tuning in' to Marcus's interests and imitating his actions during play.

Renee is encouraged to become a play partner with Marcus, rather than just an observer.

The importance of simplifying language and focusing on key vocabulary during play is emphasized.

Using action words and numbers as part of the play to engage Marcus's interest in the activity.

Marcus begins to show progress by engaging longer in play and starting to say words.

The strategy of imitating Marcus's play with a puzzle is used to join in and facilitate interaction.

Face-to-face positioning during play is suggested to improve eye contact and shared smiles.

The simplicity of the strategies used is highlighted, showing that complex education about autism is not always necessary.

Marcus enjoys the play and shows positive reactions such as smiling and making eye contact.

The concept of expanding language during play by using phrases like 'go car' is introduced.

Renee learns that simple adjustments in play and communication can significantly help Marcus.

The transcript emphasizes the importance of old-fashioned play and taking turns in activities.

Renee is encouraged to join in Marcus's activities and observe his reactions to learn and adapt.

The session concludes with a positive note on the effectiveness of the strategies used with Marcus.