Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDifferencesWhat It Looks LikeWhy Is Play Difficult?Teaching Play Skills
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Differences
What It Looks Like
Why Is Play Difficult?
Teaching Play Skills
Autistic childrenoften can’t or won’t play childhood games that theirneurotypicalpeers do, or may engage in activities that others cannot participate in. This includes lining up toys or putting toys into piles, activities that can cause extreme upset if others try to participate.
This can make things difficult for parents and caregivers trying to arrange playdates oractivities for their children. It can even be hard to figure out how to play with your own child.
This article discusses what play looks like for autistic kids and how you can help them develop social and communication skills with certain play therapies.
Jordan Siemens / Getty Images
What Autistic Play Looks Like
Many neurotypical children also line up objects, play alone, or choose certain activities over make-believe. The difference is that neurotypical kids are generally conscious of how others regard their behavior. Autistic children generally do not.
Here are some of the key differences that parents with autistic children commonly note. A child with autism:
Recognizing Autistic Children
Types of Play Autistic Kids Engage In
Neurotypical toddlers often engage in solitary play but tend to graduate quickly to partnered or group play (such as playing patty-cake or coloring in the same coloring book). By the time they are 2 or 3 years old, most neurotypical children will start to play together and understand the concept of ownership and sharing.
Autistic toddlers generally do not advance from solitary play and often have difficulty sharing. They engage in activities that only serve the purpose of self-regulating themselves (managing feelings to avoid becoming overwhelmed) or stimulating themselves (a.k.a.“stimming”).
Stimming describes repetitive behaviors that help reduce anxiety, relieve discomfort, or avoidsensory overload.
Here are some scenarios that may sound familiar to parents with children on the autism spectrum. A child will:
As autistic children grow older, their skills may improve and they may even have the ability to learn the rules of group play. Even so, their behaviors might differ from those of their peers. For example, they may:
On the other hand, autistic children are more likely to be amenable to parallel play. This is a kind of play in which kids engage in solitary activities, such as coloring or painting, in the same room.
Parallel play allows an autistic child greater freedom in choosing when to talk and when not to talk. It also allows parents, siblings, and friends to engage and socialize while still respecting the autistic child’s needs and boundaries.
Why Play Is Different for Autistic Kids
Play is different for autistic children in three key realms: imitation, symbolic play, and social communication.
Differences With Imitation
Neurotypical children watch how others play and imitate them. For example, if they see another child building with the blocks, they will often imitate that behavior.
By contrast, an autistic child may not even notice that others are playing with blocks and be far less likely to imitate the behavior.
Even so, many autistic children will imitate their peers, family members, or media characters, albeit for another reason known asecholalia.
Echolalia is a type of stimming more often used to communicate needs or feelings unrelated to what is being said. By way of example, a child with autism may repeatedly say “finger-lickin' good” to communicate hunger, repeat what someone has said to acknowledge that they heard them, or repeat the same thing again and again simply to calm themselves.
As such, echolalia is not so much imitation as it is a means to cope or communicate.
Differences With Symbolic Play
“Symbolic play” is another term for pretend play or make-believe. By age 3, most neurotypical children have developed fairly sophisticated tools for pretend play, both alone and with others.They may use toys exactly as designed to “play house” or make up their own pretend play, such as turning a box into a fortress.
Autistic children may not develop pretend play skills without prolonged skills training. While they may enjoy placing toy trains on a track, it has less to do with “playing choo-choo” and more to do with maintaining order and self-regulation.
With that said, children with autism will sometimes create imaginary friends like other kids, albeit for different reasons. Neurotypical kids will often use an imaginary friend to work out emotions and better understand their feelings. Children with autism will do so as a means to better understand howotherpeople feel and communicate in order to get a better grasp of social skills.
Differences in Social Communication
Autistic children may have little desire or ability to communicate or engage with playmates, especially verbally. Peers may see this behavior as hurtful or may simply ignore the autistic child.
When autistic children do communicate, it may not make sense to the person they are speaking to. This may be due to a form of echolalia called mitigated echolalia in which a memorized phrase (like “finger-lickin' good”) has a specific meaning to the child but the context is lost on the person they are speaking to.
Autistic children may also interrupt, speak louder or quicker than expected, or find it hard to give other people a chance to contribute to a conversation. This is due to their inability to recognize other’s reactions to their behavior. Without this ability, they may not know how to adjust their tone or engage in interactive communications.
Joint attentionis another skill that children with autism often lack. This is when you need to focus on something with another person to achieve a goal. Examples include playing a board game or working on a puzzle together. While these skills can be taught, they may never develop on their own.
There are several therapies for children with autism that are focused on building play skills. Parents and siblings can participate under the guidance of a therapist or developmental pediatrician.
These include:
It is important to recognize the play skills that your child already has. Play serves a function for each child regardless of what it looks like.
Summary
Autistic children play differently than those who aren’t autistic. They often like to repeat actions over and over and line up objects. They usually prefer to play alone and have challenges working on the same task with others. Various types of therapy are available to help autistic kids and their families play together, build relationships, and develop social skills.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Maener MJ, Shaw KA, Balkan AV, et al.Prevalence and characteristics of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 Years - Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 sites, United States, 2012.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018;67(45):1279. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6745a7Malhi P, Singhi P.A retrospective study of toddlers with autism spectrum disorder: clinical and developmental profile.Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2014;17(1):25-9. doi:10.4103/0972-2327.128537Brownell CA, Iesue SS, Nichol SR, Svetlova.Mine or yours? Development of sharing in toddlers in relation to ownership understanding.Child Dev.2013 May;84(3):906–920. doi:10.1111/cdev.12009Mazefsky CA, Herrington J, Siegel M, et al.The role of emotion regulation in autism spectrum disorder.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2013;52(7):679–688. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2013.05.006Elbeltagi R, Al-Beltagi M, Saeed NK, Alhawamdeh R.Play therapy in children with autism: Its role, implications, and limitations.World J Clin Pediatr.2023 Jan 9;12(1):1–22. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v12.i1.1Van Santen JP, Sproat RW, Hill AP.Quantifying repetitive speech in autism spectrum disorders and language impairment.Autism Res. 2013;6(5):372-383. doi:10.1002/aur.1301Kasari C, Change YC, Patterson S.Pretending to play or playing to pretend; the case of autism.Am J Play.2013 Fall;6(1):124–135.Davis PE, Slater J, Marshall D, Robins DL.Autistic children who create imaginary companions: evidence of social benefits.Autism. 2023 Jan;27(1):244-252. doi:10.1177/13623613221092195Berthier ML, Torres-Prioris MJ, López-Barroso D.Thinking on treating echolalia in aphasia: recommendations and caveats for future research directions.Front Hum Neurosci. 2017;11:164. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2017.00164National Institutes of Health.Joint attention therapy for autism.Divya KY, Begum F, John SE, Francis F.DIR/floor time in engaging autism: a systematic review.Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res.2023 Mar-Apr;28(2):132–138. doi:10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_272_21Medavarapu S, Marella LL, Sangem A, Kairam R.Where is the evidence? A narrative literature review of the treatment modalities for autism spectrum disorders.Cureus. 2019;11(1):e3901. doi:10.7759/cureus.3901The PLAY Project.About the PLAY project.Additional ReadingField T.Imitation enhances social behavior of children with autism spectrum disorder: a review.Behavioral Development Bulletin. 2017;22(1):86-93.Ingersoll B, Schreibman L.Teaching reciprocal imitation skills to young children with autism using a naturalistic behavioral approach: effects on language, pretend play, and joint attention.J Autism Dev Disord. 2006;36(4):487-505. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0089-yManning MM, Wainwright LD.The role of high level play as a predictor of social functioning in autism.J Autism Dev Disord. 2010;40(5):523-33. doi:10.1007/s10803-009-0899-9Murdock LC, Hobbs JQ.Picture me playing: Increasing pretend play dialogue of children with autism spectrum disorders.J Autism Dev Disord. 2011 Jul;41(7):870-8. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1108-6
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Maener MJ, Shaw KA, Balkan AV, et al.Prevalence and characteristics of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 Years - Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 sites, United States, 2012.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018;67(45):1279. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6745a7Malhi P, Singhi P.A retrospective study of toddlers with autism spectrum disorder: clinical and developmental profile.Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2014;17(1):25-9. doi:10.4103/0972-2327.128537Brownell CA, Iesue SS, Nichol SR, Svetlova.Mine or yours? Development of sharing in toddlers in relation to ownership understanding.Child Dev.2013 May;84(3):906–920. doi:10.1111/cdev.12009Mazefsky CA, Herrington J, Siegel M, et al.The role of emotion regulation in autism spectrum disorder.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2013;52(7):679–688. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2013.05.006Elbeltagi R, Al-Beltagi M, Saeed NK, Alhawamdeh R.Play therapy in children with autism: Its role, implications, and limitations.World J Clin Pediatr.2023 Jan 9;12(1):1–22. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v12.i1.1Van Santen JP, Sproat RW, Hill AP.Quantifying repetitive speech in autism spectrum disorders and language impairment.Autism Res. 2013;6(5):372-383. doi:10.1002/aur.1301Kasari C, Change YC, Patterson S.Pretending to play or playing to pretend; the case of autism.Am J Play.2013 Fall;6(1):124–135.Davis PE, Slater J, Marshall D, Robins DL.Autistic children who create imaginary companions: evidence of social benefits.Autism. 2023 Jan;27(1):244-252. doi:10.1177/13623613221092195Berthier ML, Torres-Prioris MJ, López-Barroso D.Thinking on treating echolalia in aphasia: recommendations and caveats for future research directions.Front Hum Neurosci. 2017;11:164. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2017.00164National Institutes of Health.Joint attention therapy for autism.Divya KY, Begum F, John SE, Francis F.DIR/floor time in engaging autism: a systematic review.Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res.2023 Mar-Apr;28(2):132–138. doi:10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_272_21Medavarapu S, Marella LL, Sangem A, Kairam R.Where is the evidence? A narrative literature review of the treatment modalities for autism spectrum disorders.Cureus. 2019;11(1):e3901. doi:10.7759/cureus.3901The PLAY Project.About the PLAY project.Additional ReadingField T.Imitation enhances social behavior of children with autism spectrum disorder: a review.Behavioral Development Bulletin. 2017;22(1):86-93.Ingersoll B, Schreibman L.Teaching reciprocal imitation skills to young children with autism using a naturalistic behavioral approach: effects on language, pretend play, and joint attention.J Autism Dev Disord. 2006;36(4):487-505. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0089-yManning MM, Wainwright LD.The role of high level play as a predictor of social functioning in autism.J Autism Dev Disord. 2010;40(5):523-33. doi:10.1007/s10803-009-0899-9Murdock LC, Hobbs JQ.Picture me playing: Increasing pretend play dialogue of children with autism spectrum disorders.J Autism Dev Disord. 2011 Jul;41(7):870-8. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1108-6
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Maener MJ, Shaw KA, Balkan AV, et al.Prevalence and characteristics of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 Years - Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 sites, United States, 2012.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018;67(45):1279. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6745a7Malhi P, Singhi P.A retrospective study of toddlers with autism spectrum disorder: clinical and developmental profile.Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2014;17(1):25-9. doi:10.4103/0972-2327.128537Brownell CA, Iesue SS, Nichol SR, Svetlova.Mine or yours? Development of sharing in toddlers in relation to ownership understanding.Child Dev.2013 May;84(3):906–920. doi:10.1111/cdev.12009Mazefsky CA, Herrington J, Siegel M, et al.The role of emotion regulation in autism spectrum disorder.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2013;52(7):679–688. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2013.05.006Elbeltagi R, Al-Beltagi M, Saeed NK, Alhawamdeh R.Play therapy in children with autism: Its role, implications, and limitations.World J Clin Pediatr.2023 Jan 9;12(1):1–22. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v12.i1.1Van Santen JP, Sproat RW, Hill AP.Quantifying repetitive speech in autism spectrum disorders and language impairment.Autism Res. 2013;6(5):372-383. doi:10.1002/aur.1301Kasari C, Change YC, Patterson S.Pretending to play or playing to pretend; the case of autism.Am J Play.2013 Fall;6(1):124–135.Davis PE, Slater J, Marshall D, Robins DL.Autistic children who create imaginary companions: evidence of social benefits.Autism. 2023 Jan;27(1):244-252. doi:10.1177/13623613221092195Berthier ML, Torres-Prioris MJ, López-Barroso D.Thinking on treating echolalia in aphasia: recommendations and caveats for future research directions.Front Hum Neurosci. 2017;11:164. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2017.00164National Institutes of Health.Joint attention therapy for autism.Divya KY, Begum F, John SE, Francis F.DIR/floor time in engaging autism: a systematic review.Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res.2023 Mar-Apr;28(2):132–138. doi:10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_272_21Medavarapu S, Marella LL, Sangem A, Kairam R.Where is the evidence? A narrative literature review of the treatment modalities for autism spectrum disorders.Cureus. 2019;11(1):e3901. doi:10.7759/cureus.3901The PLAY Project.About the PLAY project.
Maener MJ, Shaw KA, Balkan AV, et al.Prevalence and characteristics of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 Years - Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 sites, United States, 2012.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018;67(45):1279. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6745a7
Malhi P, Singhi P.A retrospective study of toddlers with autism spectrum disorder: clinical and developmental profile.Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2014;17(1):25-9. doi:10.4103/0972-2327.128537
Brownell CA, Iesue SS, Nichol SR, Svetlova.Mine or yours? Development of sharing in toddlers in relation to ownership understanding.Child Dev.2013 May;84(3):906–920. doi:10.1111/cdev.12009
Mazefsky CA, Herrington J, Siegel M, et al.The role of emotion regulation in autism spectrum disorder.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2013;52(7):679–688. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2013.05.006
Elbeltagi R, Al-Beltagi M, Saeed NK, Alhawamdeh R.Play therapy in children with autism: Its role, implications, and limitations.World J Clin Pediatr.2023 Jan 9;12(1):1–22. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v12.i1.1
Van Santen JP, Sproat RW, Hill AP.Quantifying repetitive speech in autism spectrum disorders and language impairment.Autism Res. 2013;6(5):372-383. doi:10.1002/aur.1301
Kasari C, Change YC, Patterson S.Pretending to play or playing to pretend; the case of autism.Am J Play.2013 Fall;6(1):124–135.
Davis PE, Slater J, Marshall D, Robins DL.Autistic children who create imaginary companions: evidence of social benefits.Autism. 2023 Jan;27(1):244-252. doi:10.1177/13623613221092195
Berthier ML, Torres-Prioris MJ, López-Barroso D.Thinking on treating echolalia in aphasia: recommendations and caveats for future research directions.Front Hum Neurosci. 2017;11:164. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2017.00164
National Institutes of Health.Joint attention therapy for autism.
Divya KY, Begum F, John SE, Francis F.DIR/floor time in engaging autism: a systematic review.Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res.2023 Mar-Apr;28(2):132–138. doi:10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_272_21
Medavarapu S, Marella LL, Sangem A, Kairam R.Where is the evidence? A narrative literature review of the treatment modalities for autism spectrum disorders.Cureus. 2019;11(1):e3901. doi:10.7759/cureus.3901
The PLAY Project.About the PLAY project.
Field T.Imitation enhances social behavior of children with autism spectrum disorder: a review.Behavioral Development Bulletin. 2017;22(1):86-93.Ingersoll B, Schreibman L.Teaching reciprocal imitation skills to young children with autism using a naturalistic behavioral approach: effects on language, pretend play, and joint attention.J Autism Dev Disord. 2006;36(4):487-505. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0089-yManning MM, Wainwright LD.The role of high level play as a predictor of social functioning in autism.J Autism Dev Disord. 2010;40(5):523-33. doi:10.1007/s10803-009-0899-9Murdock LC, Hobbs JQ.Picture me playing: Increasing pretend play dialogue of children with autism spectrum disorders.J Autism Dev Disord. 2011 Jul;41(7):870-8. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1108-6
Field T.Imitation enhances social behavior of children with autism spectrum disorder: a review.Behavioral Development Bulletin. 2017;22(1):86-93.
Ingersoll B, Schreibman L.Teaching reciprocal imitation skills to young children with autism using a naturalistic behavioral approach: effects on language, pretend play, and joint attention.J Autism Dev Disord. 2006;36(4):487-505. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0089-y
Manning MM, Wainwright LD.The role of high level play as a predictor of social functioning in autism.J Autism Dev Disord. 2010;40(5):523-33. doi:10.1007/s10803-009-0899-9
Murdock LC, Hobbs JQ.Picture me playing: Increasing pretend play dialogue of children with autism spectrum disorders.J Autism Dev Disord. 2011 Jul;41(7):870-8. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1108-6
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
