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Pattern Play

January 15, 2024/
Play smart! Mikey putting in the last two pieces of a pattern block puzzle.
Just because I struggle to talk, doesn't mean I struggle to think.

Mikey’s Autism makes speech tricky for him. He is not and has never been ‘on grade level’ for anything verbal: reading, writing, speaking, even understanding spoken words.  That said, there are so many activities that let kids stretch their brains without using words. This game is a perfect example.

Mikey's journal entry for Jan 15 2014. I did these puzzles with my mom. We took turns. There is a pattern on each card. You use the pieces to match the pattern on the card.
This activity was great for Mikey because the cards provided guidance and he could pick up on the idea pretty quickly.

When I note that Mikey and I took turns, I mean block by block. He couldn’t do the puzzles on his own at the time of this journal entry. He couldn’t do them independently – YET. He can now! Go, Mikey, Go!!

Big Idea

Toys or activities that provide step-by-step instructions or a picture model might be very helpful for a child who struggles to ‘play independently’ or to engage in pretend play.

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2 Comments

  1. Sarah Sullivan on January 15, 2024 at 9:38 pm

    Love this! What a great idea. And go Mikey!

    Reply
    • Erica Mauro on January 28, 2024 at 9:30 am

      So fun!

      Reply

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Erica Mauro

About the Author

Erica Mauro is a mom to two teenage boys, Will who is neurotypical and Michael with Autism and cognitive delays. She holds a BA in Psychology from Colgate University and a Masters of Psychology in Education from Columbia Teacher’s College. Before staying home with her children, she worked as an elementary school teacher. For five years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs. In partnership with her husband Dave, she aspires to parent by using daily life as an opportunity for therapeutic intervention, seizing on real experiences as opportunities to build skills and strategies for Michael in a joyful, loving home environment. On the tougher early days, she just tried to get everyone safely to bedtime and start fresh in the morning. *wink* 😉

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