“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation”
– Plato, Greek Philosopher
“Do you wish your son would tell you what he did in school?
“Do you wish your daughter would tell you what she is thinking when she is really quiet?
“Do you wish you could know what upsets your child when he seems agitated?
“Do you wish you could know what your child most loves and wants?
“For a child or adult on the Autism spectrum communicating with people can be very challenging, especially communicating about their personal experiences or emotions. In fact, this is one of our children’s biggest challenges!
“Often times parents are unclear on how they can engage and relate to their own children. Throughout the years, during my work at The Autism Treatment Center of America® parents have often told me: “I’m not sure what my child likes to do”, or “I really don’t know how to engage with him”, or “ I don’t have a relationship with my daughter on the spectrum, like I do with my Neuro-Typical children. I don’t know what to do with her!”
“One of my top favorite aspects of the Son-Rise Program, is that we teach parents and care-givers how to enter their children’s world in a way that is gentle and fun. And a huge part of this is done through PLAY!!! That’s right! We get down on the floor with our children, follow their lead, bond with them and join them, while doing what they do. If the child in front of me is playing with a long piece of string, I delight in this myself while playing with a long piece of string too…
“When I first started working at the Autism Treatment Center of America, 17 years ago, I had to learn to put my adult “seriousness” aside, and I had to re-learn how to actually have fun, be silly, and let playfulness carry me to a very special place… In this place, something very “magical” would happen, and in front of me, I would watch a child who had been withdrawn, and distant, reach out, laugh, actually look at me and want to engage and play with me. In those moments of play, I experienced the blessing of having children share with me very meaningful conversations, some have told me about their fears, others have told me about their wishes… Through play, children have shared with me things that they had not previously shared with anyone else in their lives. This playful space is the best place to be with our children on the autism spectrum! It’s when we let down our guard, our veils, our agendas, and let go of pressure… This playful space inside ourselves brings out the best in of all of us!
“Today – allow yourself to be as playful and silly as a free-spirited child, with no filters, no “hold-backs”. Then, create an intention to be with your child while holding this playful space within yourself!
“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.”
Written by Camila Titone, Senior Son-Rise Program Teacher