We are all living through a pandemic that may have never happened to anyone before. Offices are working from home or on rotation; schools and educational centers are temporarily closed. This has certainly caused a lot of disruption and pressure for each person and each family, especially families with children with autism.

Play is an important “job” that helps all children learn and grow. Through play, children can learn many skills such as: problem solving skills, cognitive skills, language skills, thinking skills, etc. For children with autism, play seems to be a little different. Children like games that are repetitive in a structured way or focus on exploring the “details” of things, for example: watching car wheels rotate or lining up toys in long rows, etc. Children with autism may not be able to “play” by themselves in the usual way and need to be “taught” to play. Therefore, structured play is extremely meaningful for children with autism.

Visual aids or visual strategies are tools that present information using pictures, symbols, icons, text and objects to provide visual cues that help users – those who have difficulty understanding and using language – communicate effectively with others.