Along with many other challenges, a child with autism usually does not develop play skills naturally like his typically developing peers. Easter Seals Central California offers free in home training sessions for parents and therapy for children. In an interview, Drea Strompf (P.L.A.Y. Project Home Consultant) explained what the P.L.A.Y. Project was and how interested families can become involved.
PLAY is short for Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters. It was created by Dr. Rick Solomon and and is based on the DIR theory of Stanley Greenspan, popularly knows as Floortime. Our program emphasizes the importance of helping parents become their child's best PLAY partner. It focuses on helping children with ASD build emotional connections and engage in meaningful relationships. We play at the child's functional developmental level while helping the child gain social skills and langauge by building strong relaitonships with adults and eventually peers. We allow the child to guide the play and through the child's interest we encourage reciprocal interaction. It's a fun program not only for the child but the parents too!
When Parents receive training it has a tremendous effect on the child's progress. Parents are their child's best therapist. There is no better person to start with than the people the children see the most and find most comforting. If PLAY is not done within the home on an everyday basis, there will be no progress. Parents and caregivers are the child's best play partner.
If a child is diagnosed or at risk for autism they are likely to be great canidates for participating in the PLAY Project. As long as the child is under the age of 8 and lives in Fresno county there is no cost to participate. However we need a stong commitment from families. They will put in the time and effort expected of them by their Home Consultant. The child will not progress if the parents are not involved.
At the moment there is a waitlist. Families are encouraged to call and be put on the waitlist for when we start accepting new families. They can call Drea Strompf at 559-267-3952
Disclaimer: Please note, contact your doctor on any therapies, supplements or actions you take for your child. This article and its contents are for information only and should not be misconstrued as medical or legal advice.
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