Engage Nonverbal Autistic Learners With These Five Simple And Fun Classroom Activities
8th March 2024
Do you know that the prevalence rate of autism disorder has increased from 178% since 2000? On top of that, 40% of the individuals with autism spectrum disorder around the world are non-verbal autism.
Source: bridgecareaba.com
So, are you also dealing with non-verbal autistic children in your special needs classroom?
Are you also looking for the best classroom activities with which you can help them to develop various life skills like motor skills, sensory skills, communication skills and critical-thinking skills which could help them in their future life as well?
Then no need to worry, we got you covered.
In this blog post, we will be sharing some of the simple classroom activities, which is engaging and inclusive for non-verbal autistic students.
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So, without any further delay, let’s get started.
What is Non-Verbal Autism?
Non-verbal autism is a type of autism spectrum disorder that if an individual has they have little or no communication abilities.
Those children have non-verbal autistic syndrome, they cannot be able to express their thoughts and feelings, or they may be able to say a few words at a moment.
Additionally, they also have a hard time comprehending language, which may become a hindrance in academic and personal lives.
Why Play Activities is Necessary For Non-Verbal Autistic Children?
For every child playing related activities is a necessity even for non-verbal autistic children. However, those children who don’t have autism spectrum disorder can easily say what activities they want to get engaged in, and on the other hand, those children who have autism spectrum disorder have a hard time figuring that out.
As a responsible special education teacher, it’s your responsibility to help your non-verbal autistic children interact with the world around them and engage in playing activities that suit them.
Below we have shared how you can help them engage in playing activities:
1. Offer Them Choices
Non-verbal autistic children might not be able to communicate with what toy they want to play. As a special education teacher, you can make their life easy by giving them different choices like- soft toys, balls, blocks, etc. They may not be able to communicate but they may show an inclination towards certain toys towards their gesture.
2. Use Simple Games
Some of the games may be hard to grasp for non-verbal autistic children. So for their easiness, you can introduce them to simple and repetitive games like- hand flapping, twirling, repeating phrases, manipulating objects, etc.
3. Use Their Non-Verbal language
Every child with Autism spectrum disorder has its own unique way of communicating. Some students might communicate by pointing, clapping, or making sounds. Take notes of their way of communication and imitate it to communicate with them and to understand them effectively.
4. Have Patience
Your non-verbal autistic students might get frustrated when they feel that they are not getting heard. So, it's suggested to have patience and try to understand what they are trying to convey.
Five Simple Activities For Non-Verbal Autistic Children
Let’s get to know some of the best and simplest activities for your non-verbal Autism Spectrum Disorder students:
1. Playing With Blocks
Playing with blocks will help non-verbal autistic children develop their fine motor skills and non-verbal skills.
2. Playing With Environmental Elements
Introduce your non-verbal autistic children to environmental elements like- sand and water. Encourage them to play with it, which will ultimately help them to improve their sensory skill and become aware of cause-and-effect relationships.
3. Engage Them With Music & Dancing Activity
Encouraging your non-verbal autistic children to listen to music and dance to it can help to develop rhythm and improve their co-ordination.
Additionally, it also allows them to express themselves freely.
4. Engage Them in Outdoor Activities
It’s very important for non-verbal autistic children to spend in nature and green environments. You can plan a trip in a nature-rich environment and encourage them to take just a simple walk or even hiking.
5. Engage Them in Singing Activities
Encourage them to sing their favourite songs and rhymes, which will help them to develop confidence, social skills, and communication skills as well.
Make Your Non-Verbal Autistic Children's Life Easier
The challenges and requirements of non-verbal autistic children are different from other general students. On top of it, every non-verbal autistic child may incline towards certain activities than others. Therefore, it’s every special education teacher’s responsibility to understand the diverse needs of every non-verbal autistic child and introduce them to the above-mentioned simple yet fun activities or any of your chosen activities.
Additionally, if you want more classroom activities to make life easier for your non-verbal autistic children then consider pursuing courses like a Certificate in Special Education in Saudi Arabia, where you can expect guidance from top expert trainers who will also help you to become a capable special education teacher.
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Written By : Abhishek
