How/what do you play with your child with ASD/Aspergers/autism

OK so it's school holidays and I am flailing with DS who has aspergers. I am stuck with what to do with him. He loves the DS and gaming systems but I try and limit this. If he is not engaged with gaming then he needs adult reassurance at all times - to repeat back what he is saying or role play his games/movies. I need help.

What sort of activities to you play with your child with autism. Do you structure alone playing time - how can I do this. I am exhausted from coming up with ideas only to have him wander off after a few minutes and continue with his pokemon obsession.

Thanks for any help

I do planned activities in the morning when I have energy and patience :lol: So today our activity (because M had a cold and temp last night we have to miss OT) is making pretzels this morning... and Uno. She gets quite obsessive about board games and card games, so everyday I let her choose one to do, and we play that one for a while. I generally have to play very cautiously because if I do it wrong, that could be the end of the day for us. Matilda does enjoy ABC kids for an hour in the morning which helps me wake up...

And we have DS time in the middle of the day while DD2 is having a rest. That way they are both quiet and settled for at least 20 minutes and I can have a break. We have some physical stuff in the arvo starting with the trampoline and swings and then I do some OT activities with her. I try to settle her down but if I miss my cues than its all over too.

School holidays start here next week and I am not looking forward to it!

ETA we are still doing a 3 day a week kindy term, next term is 4 days a week

Thanks Christy - OMG board games Xander will play monopoly all day but I just don't have the patience as he wants us to sit and play all day too. So I have to admit I hide them :redface: I wish I had the dedication and patience he has.

I might try writing out the structure and seeing if he is happy to spend some time independently if he can pick what to do etc. Most of his favourite things involve some sort of screen and I feel terrible but everything else I try and encourage him to do lasts all of two minutes before he is hammering on about pokemon again.

oh saram thank you thank you for starting this thread.
I am going crazy trying to entertain DS. Like you i try different things with him, painting, art craft activities, play doh etc etc but some how every activities turns into an activity about his plug obsession! And the repeating!:wall: he is constantly repeating and if i don't repeat back what he says he has a tanty.

Dh and i bought ds a really cool swing set with a slippery dip for his 3rd birthday (gave it to him early hehe) and he looooves it! i have to help him climb up the stairs coz he's not that good at climbing but i don't mind that, anything is better than the repeating and whinging. I find that if i take him out to the back yard in the morning when his brother is asleep he will generally entertain himself and then he's nice and tired for his midday nap :dance: Thank God for that nap!

I'm really interested to see some other ideas, i'll be watching this thread!

M will want to play the playstation most of the time but I kick him off and he will play lego, draw, I have a few writing and maths activity books for him to work on, make paper planes, arrange his hotwheels cars etc...

Together we bake as he LOVES helping me in the kitchen, he will pair up socks if I ask him to help me fold and he reads to me.

Usually he gets a feral spurt on and will have a fight or trash the lounge in the afternoon. It's mostly because of boredom and this time of year he's not keen on going outside so he has energy to burn. I keep baking up my sleeve for such occasions. Yesterday I got him peeling carrots for dinner ;) He does a lousy job but he likes it!

M will want to play the playstation most of the time but I kick him off and he will play lego, draw, I have a few writing and maths activity books for him to work on, make paper planes, arrange his hotwheels cars etc...

Together we bake as he LOVES helping me in the kitchen, he will pair up socks if I ask him to help me fold and he reads to me.

Usually he gets a feral spurt on and will have a fight or trash the lounge in the afternoon. It's mostly because of boredom and this time of year he's not keen on going outside so he has energy to burn. I keep baking up my sleeve for such occasions. Yesterday I got him peeling carrots for dinner ;) He does a lousy job but he likes it!

Thanks Raven - m ight have a go at baking tomorrow - we haven't done that since he was about 9mths :-)

Lestyrox - glad to hear the slide was a hit! We have a backyard full of stuff that doesn't get used :-( Except for the tramp - it's about the only "toy" we have bought that he actually plays with