06/17/2022
Independent play is when a child plays on their own without adults interfering. It is free, unstructured open-ended play.
For children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, playing independently can be challenging due to limited social and communication skills and repetitive behaviors that restrict a child’s ability to play creatively.
Independent play skills help to shape a number of very important developmental skills like visual discrimination, problem solving, eye-hand coordination, imagination and creativity, organization skills, and can help a child learn to stay on task.
Independent play skills also help to reduce some self-stimulatory behaviors and negative behaviors that sometimes are caused by boredom.
Appropriate play skills are another important skill that we teach early learners at New Foundations ABA Therapy.