Why Role-playing?

This week, I was still deciding what to write about and we had scheduled an appointment to tour a school for Autistic kids for my kid. The experience gave me an idea what I wanted to write about this week. If you didn't know, some autistic kids are not easily swayed to hop in the car and run out to where you want them to. This is due to fear or anxiety of the unexpected, or what they might not be familiar with (because we can't just talk to them and they understand things easily), autistic kids resist going to any place that is not comfortable for them. The most challenging for me is when we have to take my kid to the Doctor or to the Dentist. I still have anxiety doing both, but I'm able to control mines. However, for Summer, there's quite a preparation way ahead. A week before the appointment, the preparation involves getting everyone in the house to mention or talk about the Dentist or visit the Doctor (depending on what kind of appointment it is). I'd purposely have little kids shows that Sumz watches playing on the TV or her iPad where the kid or cartoon character of the program goes to the Dentist or visits the Doctor as part of her preparation. Another time we got books from the library (Daniel Tiger visits the Doctor), and Summer kept hiding the book. I would find it and make sure I read it out loud so she could hear me or make her read it as part of her reading for the day. When it gets to that appointment day, she would have little crying sessions, but it does not take long for her to get over it.

However, the last time we took her to the Dentist's office, Sumz was Ms. Social Butterfly. It was fun and cute to watch. As I went to check in, she says 'hello' to the front desk ladies. When the dental assistant came and called out, Summer? She jumps up with a big smile and says, "I'm Summer Leilani. I'm here!" I chuckled and smiled at the assistant, but was so grateful she was chipper. So here are five reasons why role-playing for autistic kids, and some tips, can help if your kid (autistic or not) fears or is anxious about going to the Dentist or Doctor.

1. Role-playing provides a safe environment for children with autism to practice social skills. Children can learn to navigate and respond appropriately to various social contexts by acting out different social situations.

Tips:

• Start with simple scenarios such as greeting someone or asking for help.

• Use visual aids, like social stories or cue cards, to guide the child through the role-play.

• Gradually increase the complexity of the social situations as the child becomes more comfortable.

2. Improves Communication Skills: Engaging in role-playing activities can help children with autism develop both verbal and non-verbal communication skills. They learn to express their thoughts, ideas, and emotions more effectively, boosting their self-confidence.

Tips:

• Encourage the child to use expressive language by providing prompts and modeling appropriate language use.

• Integrate elements of non-verbal communication, such as facial expressions and gestures, into the role-play scenarios.

• Reinforce and praise proper communication throughout the activity.

3. Fosters Emotional Understanding: Role-playing allows children with autism to explore and experience different emotions in a controlled setting. It helps them recognize and understand the emotions of others, as well as their own feelings.

Tips:

• Introduce emotions gradually by using visual aids, such as emotion cards or charts.

• Incorporate characters with various emotional states into the role-play scenarios.

• Discuss the emotions displayed by the characters after the role-play, helping the child relate those emotions to real-life experiences.

4. Enhances Flexibility and Adaptability: Participating in role-playing activities teaches children with autism to adapt to new situations and to think flexibly. Experiencing different scenarios and roles teaches them to respond to changes and handle unexpected situations more effectively.

Tips:

• Change the settings, characters, or rules of the role-play scenarios to encourage flexibility.

• Encourage problem-solving by presenting the child with unexpected challenges during the activity.

• Praise the child's efforts when they adapt to new situations or demonstrate flexibility.

5. Promotes Imagination and Creativity: Role-playing offers a platform for children with autism to express their creativity and imagination. They can develop a sense of autonomy and self-expression by creating their own stories and characters.

Tips:

• Provide props and costumes to encourage imaginative play.

• Allow the child to lead in creating stories and characters, offering guidance when needed.

• Encourage collaboration by involving other children in role-play activities, fostering a sense of teamwork and shared creativity.

Role-playing is a powerful tool that offers numerous benefits for children with autism. These work for my kid, and they might not work for yours, but you will know once you try them. You know what works for your babies, so I hope these tips will help you or a friend with their autistic kid. Till Next Time...