Making the Most of Reading Time Together

CREATED BY SUSIE ALMANEIH

READING WITH A CHILD WHO HAS AUTISMSPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD) CAN BE

INVALUABLE TIME SPENT TOGETHER. THEACTIVITY HELPS THE CHILD’S LEARNING

AND SOCIAL SKILLS, LANGUAGEDEVELOPMENT, AND LISTENING SKILLS. IT

CAN ALSO BE A FUN WAY TO BETTERCONNECT, WHILE HELPING YOUR CHILD

TO ACQUIRE A LOVE OF BOOKS.

Remembering and applying simple tips will ensure that you’remaking the most of this time with your child, and that he or

she is getting the most benefit out of it. Include the followingideas during your reading time:

1. Ease into it.

Because children with ASDoften have a very short

attention span, start by readingfor short periods of time,pointing out and namingobjects as you progress

through a book. Be sure tobuild up reading time as you

go; your child will start lookingforward to the activity as a

time of both fun and learning.

2. Make it part of the routine.

If your child thrives from routine each day, try reading afavorite book as he or she goes from one task to another.For example, this usual activity can set the stage for naptime or bedtime. Find a quiet place with no distractions.

Each time you read to your child, you are helping his or her brain todevelop. Reading aloud allows your child to hear your voice and listen

to spoken words, prompting questions. It’s essentially planting theseed to make reading a permanent part of life.

3. Read aloud.

4. Read with expression.

Create different voices fordifferent characters, and

emphasize rhymes and consonantpatterns. Use your voice to stress

new and interesting words, andeven share how you feel about aparticular word. Continue to use

the new word throughout the dayto build and support your child’s

growing vocabulary.

5. Engage your child.

Make comments and ask questionsas you read. Direct your child’s

attention to the pictures, the facialexpressions of the characters, andmake predictions. Make comments

and ask open-ended questions,which help to build thinking and

conversational skills.

6. Consider repetition.

Read the same story again and again. This will help your child to fullygrasp language. Also, books that have a lot of repetitive phrases allow

children to memorize some of the text and “read” the pages the next time.

7. Incorporate Sound Effects

Books that havebuttons your child can

press for soundsmakes reading more

interactive andmemorable. Audio

cues can aid inretention so that yourchild takes in what is

going on and holdsonto it long after

reading time is over.

8. Subject matter matters.

Just like all of us, your child will be more involved with abook that covers a topic of interest. Animals, sports, trains,etc. – whatever your child may be into, books of that subject

matter will ignite and maintain his or her love of reading.

9. Relate the story.

Talk about thestory to your child.Relate it to his orher personal

experiences, or toyour own.

10. Stay close.

Reading time can alsoserve as emotional

bonding time. Share aspecial blanket or evenbuild a reading fort to

share in the specialactivity.

In this way, theenjoyment of readingbecomes connected to

caring and love.

As a parent, getting a child with ASD tobecome interested in reading can at first bechallenging and frustrating, but one of thebest tips you can take into consideration is tojust keep trying. Reading can become an

activity that both you and your child will lookforward to each day, and the noticeable

benefits will only further motivate the effort.

Autism Speaks offers a vast listof titles for different age levels,

interests, and involvement.Access the complete list here:

https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/resource-

library/books.