This week, we are continuing our discussion on honoring autistic play, focusing on how to gently expand it using simple strategies. We’ll talk about how to start with activities the child already loves and introduce new ideas through modeling and imitation. The goal is to help children explore new ways to play while still feeling comfortable and understood. Let’s dive in and explore these techniques together!

You will learn about:

1. Why to gently expand the play of autistic children

2. Ways to expand play through modeling

3. Using visual supports for play

4. Honoring autistic play

Themed Play Visual Supports: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Autism-Play-Themed-Visual-Supports-For-Special-Education-8414926?st=37dec0cd2be145851805b8d1e34e52e3

Research Article On Autistic Play: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/aut.2023.0008

Bath Song On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVYXHMY7wvo

Exploratory Play Toys - Amazon List: https://amzn.to/4cXs7Z7

Functional Play Toys - Amazon List: https://amzn.to/3Tki6OI

You may also be interested in these supports:

1. Visual Support Starter Set

2. Visual Supports Facebook Group

3. Autism Little Learners on Instagram

4. Autism Little Learners on Facebook

Submit a question for the Q&A episodes. Ask me anything and tune in to see if your question is featured on the show!

In this week’s episode, we are talking about the unique ways autistic children play and why it's so important to respect and support their individual styles. Whether they enjoy repetitive actions or prefer playing alone, the ways they play are meaningful and important. We’ll also discuss how we can gently encourage new ways to play while honoring their preferences. You really don’t want to miss today’s episode. I’ll see you inside the show!

You will learn about:

• Autistic play
• Definition of play
• Respecting play differences
• Expanding play in a gentle way
• Creating an environment inclusive of all play

Peer Play And The Autism Spectrum Book: https://amzn.to/3Tdt6NG

Dr. Pamela Wolfberg: http://www.wolfberg.com/

Research Article On Autistic Play: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/aut.2023.0008

You may also be interested in these supports:

Visual Support Starter Set

Visual Supports Facebook Group

Autism Little Learners on Instagram

Autism Little Learners on Facebook

You can also join my free Visual Supports Facebook Group to “hang out” with like-minded educators and parents who want to take action and implement visuals at home or at school.

Be sure to subscribe to The Autism Little Learners Podcast so you don’t miss future episodes. Plus, leave a rating & review on iTunes….this will help other educators and parents find this podcast!

CLICK HERE to leave a review on iTunes, then scroll down to “ratings and reviews” and click “write a review”. THANK YOU!

I had the honor of talking to Jessie Ginsburg, the Sensory SLP last spring and I’m so thrilled to bring the conversation back to you! We talked about the connection between sensory and communication and how the two can create increased engagement and progress for autistic children.

We also chatted about Jessie’s book, “Ready, Set, Connect”. If you don’t have your copy yet, grab it today! THIS is the information that you need if you want to start your new school year off with strategies that truly place compassion over compliance.

Topics Discussed:

• Combining sensory input with communication

• Authentic connections with autistic kids

• Sensory avoiders and sensory seekers

• Seesaw analogy and optimal learning zone

• The importance of a proactive approach to regulation

• Jessie’s book titled “Ready, Set, Connect” is published!

Jessie Ginsburg is a sensory trained speech-language pathologist, CEO of Pediatric Therapy Playhouse, a top-rated clinic in Los Angeles, and author of Ready Set Connect: A Sensory-Based Approach to Accelerate Connection and Communication in Autistic Children. Through her international publications and talks, and her global Inside Out Sensory Certificate Program, Jessie inspires a new way of thinking about supporting communication development in Autistic children.

Book: www.readysetconnectbook.com

Sensory Course: www.sensoryslp.com

Making the Shift Live Show: www.youtube.com/c/SpeechDudeJessieGinsburg

Other Links You May Be Interested In:

• Autism Little Learners on Instagram

• Autism Little Learners on Facebook

You can also join my free Visual Supports Facebook Group to “hang out” with like-minded educators and parents who want to take action and implement visuals at home or at school.

Be sure to subscribe to The Autism Little Learners Podcast so you don’t miss future episodes. Plus, leave a rating & review on iTunes….this will help other educators and parents find this podcast!

CLICK HERE to leave a review on iTunes, then scroll down to “ratings and reviews” and click “write a review”. THANK YOU!

Welcome back to our special Back to School series, where we're revisiting some of the most popular and impactful episodes to help you gear up for the new school year. These episodes have resonated with so many educators and parents, and we're excited to share them with you again.

I'm thrilled to bring back an engaging and super informative conversation with speech/language pathologist Nicole Casey. Nicole's passion for working with autistic children and her deep dive into gestalt language processing make her an amazing guest. In this extra-long episode, we share stories, examples, and insights that will leave you inspired and informed. Nicole's enthusiasm and expertise shine through, and I'm sure you'll love her as much as I do by the end of this episode.

Topics Discussed:

1. What gestalt language processing is and how it differs from analytic language processing

2. Key indicators that a child might be a gestalt language processor

3. Examples of gestalts

4. Free resource to help track a child’s gestalts

5. Real life stories about GLPs and how connection makes a huge difference

6. Where to start with gestalt language processors and strategies to use

Bio:

Nicole Casey is a speech-language pathologist specializing in working with gestalt language processors and AAC users in her pediatric private practice, Connections Speech Pathology. Nicole's approach is as dynamic as it is effective, blending evidence-based practices with a deep understanding of each individual's unique strengths and needs. As a neurodiversity-affirming clinician, Nicole has seen the transformative power of a child-led, play-based approach on her clients and their families. Her goal is to remind all that connection is the key to communication and that all kids have limitless potential when they have communication partners who believe in them.

Links

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connectionsspeechpathology?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/connectionsspeechpathology

Website: https://www.connectionsspeechpathology.com/

Free Gestalt Language Tracker: https://connectionsspeech.myflodesk.com/summit

The Great Language Course:

Other Links You May Be Interested In:

1. Autism Little Learners on Instagram

2. Autism Little Learners on Facebook

You can also join my free Visual Supports Facebook Group to “hang out” with like-minded educators and parents who want to take action and implement visuals at home or at school.

Be sure to subscribe to The Autism Little Learners Podcast so you don’t miss future episodes. Plus, leave a rating & review on iTunes….this will help other educators and parents find this podcast!

CLICK HERE to leave a review on iTunes, then scroll down to “ratings and reviews” and click “write a review”. THANK YOU!

Welcome back to our special Back to School series, where we're revisiting some of the most popular and impactful episodes to help you gear up for the new school year. These episodes have resonated with so many educators and parents, and we're excited to share them with you again.

The conversation around hand-over-hand prompting has been gaining traction, with many questioning its impact on bodily autonomy and neurodiversity affirmation. In this episode, I am joined by occupational therapist Dr. Diamond Rashad, who brings valuable insights into this important topic. Her expertise and clear articulation make this episode a must-listen for anyone working with young autistic children. We'll dive into the nuances of physical prompting and explore alternative strategies that honor each child's autonomy.

Topics Discussed:

1. Bodily autonomy and agency

2. Hand-over-hand prompting

3. Alternatives to hand-over-hand prompting

4. Asking for consent

5. What to do when kids aren’t initiating

Links:

Website: www.adimeinot.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/adimeofot

Freebie (discount code: littlepod) :

https://drdime.ck.page/products/hand-over-hand-tip-sheet?promo=LITTLEPOD

Bio:

Dr. Diamond Rashad (she/her), is a neurodivergent pediatric occupational therapist, disability advocate, and doula who resides in Georgia. She has worked as an occupational therapist for eight years and has experience working from a trauma-informed lens with children, adolescents, and young adults with differences in sensory integration, executive function, feeding & mealtime participation, and supporting Autistic clients and their families. She is the founder of Emira’s Mamas & "A Dime of OT"; she is passionate about supporting birthing parents from pregnancy to postpartum, diversity and inclusion in allied health settings, social-emotional support & co-regulation, and advocacy for culturally responsive, equitable care.

Other Links You May Be Interested In:

1. Autism Little Learners on Instagram

2. Autism Little Learners on Facebook

You can also join my free Visual Supports Facebook Group to “hang out” with like-minded educators and parents who want to take action and implement visuals at home or at school.

Be sure to subscribe to The Autism Little Learners Podcast so you don’t miss future episodes. Plus, leave a rating & review on iTunes….this will help other educators and parents find this podcast!

CLICK HERE to leave a review on iTunes, then scroll down to “ratings and reviews” and click “write a review”. THANK YOU!

Welcome back to our special Back to School series, where we're revisiting some of the most popular and impactful episodes to help you gear up for the new school year. These episodes have resonated with so many educators and parents, and we're excited to share them with you again.

Teaching autistic preschoolers with a strength-based approach can make a world of difference in their learning experience. Instead of focusing on what a child can't do, strength-based learning emphasizes their strengths, passions, and interests. In this episode, we'll compare strength-based learning to the traditional deficit-based approach and highlight the power of positive relationships in the classroom. With real-life examples, I'll provide you with practical strategies to implement a strengths-based approach.

Topics Discussed:

1. Strength-based approach to learning

2. Deficits-based approach

3. Value of positive relationships

4. Examples of strength-based approaches

Links Mentioned In This Episode:

Child Interest Survey

The Strengths Based Guide To Supporting Autistic Children by Claire Hill

Learn Play Thrive Blog Post

Strength based approach video

Tot Tube

Put in barn on Amazon

Video of put in barn activity on Instagram

Related Podcast Episodes To Listen To:

#58 Play-based learning for preschool autistic children

#50 3 ways to follow the lead of an autistic child

#36 Activities for children who dump and throw toys - Tips for expanding exploratory play

Other Links You May Be Interested In:

1. Autism Little Learners on Instagram

2. Autism Little Learners on Facebook

You can also join my free Visual Supports Facebook Group to “hang out” with likeminded educators and parents who want to take action and implement visuals at home or at school.

Be sure to subscribe to The Autism Little Learners Podcast so you don’t miss future episodes. Plus, leave a rating & review on iTunes….this will help other educators and parents find this podcast! CLICK HERE to leave a review on iTunes, then scroll down to “ratings and reviews” and click “write a review”. THANK YOU!

Welcome back to our special Back to School series, where we're revisiting some of the most popular and impactful episodes to help you gear up for the new school year. These episodes have resonated with so many educators and parents, and we're excited to share them with you again. Let's dive into the first one!

As we head back into the classroom, understanding the developmental stages of play is crucial for supporting our young autistic students. In this episode, we explore the concept of "exploratory play"—a stage where children might dump toys, throw objects, or mouth everything. Instead of seeing these actions as a lack of play skills, we'll discover how they are part of a natural developmental process. Join me as I discuss how "put in" and "take out" activities can guide children in this exploratory stage toward more functional play. Let's get started!

Topics Discussed:

1. Exploratory play

2. Put in activities

3. Take out activities

4. Suggestions for types of activities to use

5. Next steps to expand

Links Mentioned In This Episode About Visual Supports:

1. Take Out The Toys Booklet

2. Put In & Take Out Toys List On Amazon

3. Themed Play Visual Supports

4. Podcast Episode About Exploratory Play

5. Blog Post About Exploratory Play

6. The Hanen Centre

Other Links You May Be Interested In:

1. Autism Little Learners on Instagram

2. Autism Little Learners on Facebook

You can also join my free Visual Supports Facebook Group to “hang out” with like-minded educators and parents who want to take action and implement visuals at home or school.

Be sure to subscribe to The Autism Little Learners Podcast so you don’t miss future episodes. Plus, leave a rating & review on iTunes….this will help other educators and parents find this podcast! CLICK HERE to leave a review on iTunes, then scroll down to “ratings and reviews” and click “write a review”. THANK YOU!

As we head into August and gear up for the new school year, we thought it would be the perfect time to revisit some of our most popular episodes. These episodes have resonated deeply with our listeners and are packed with valuable insights that will be incredibly helpful during this back-to-school season.

Today, we're kicking things off with an episode that offers five essential tips to support coregulation and self-regulation with young autistic children. These strategies are designed to create a supportive and nurturing environment, helping our little learners thrive both in and out of the classroom. Let's dive in and refresh our knowledge on these key techniques!

We hear the term self-regulation all the time. But, we need to remember an important step of co-regulation. This episode will walk you through 5 tips for moving from co-regulation to self-regulation. You can grab the calming kit here.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

• 5 tips for moving from co-regulation to self-regulation

• About what co-regulation is

• About what self-regulation is

• Visual supports that can encourage self-regulation

Links Mentioned In This Episode About Co-Regulation & Self-Regulation:

• Adapted Book Library

• Visual Support Starter Set

• Visual Supports Facebook Group

• Autism Little Learners on Instagram

• Autism Little Learners on Facebook

• Adapted Books Blog

• 5 Fidget Toys For Self Regulation Blog

• Co-Regulation And Autism Blog

• Children’s Book List For Self-Relation

• DIY Calming Tent

Other Links You May Be Interested In:

• Autism Little Learners on Instagram

• Autism Little Learners on Facebook

You can also join my free Visual Supports Facebook Group to “hang out” with like-minded educators and parents who want to take action and implement visuals at home or at school.

Be sure to subscribe to The Autism Little Learners Podcast so you don’t miss future episodes. Plus, leave a rating & review on iTunes….this will help other educators and parents find this podcast!

CLICK HERE to leave a review on iTunes, then scroll down to “ratings and reviews” and click “write a review”. THANK YOU!