Leisure skills, unlike developmental play, support lifelong engagement, independence, and quality of life, whether it’s crochet, reading, or structured hobbies. In this discussion, we explore how play skills evolve across ages and how ABA programs can support that progression.
Ideas for Teaching Play Skills to Learners in ABA
We outline the typical stages of play, from exploratory and functional play in toddlers to pretend, constructive, and rule-based games in older kids. We discuss why using outdated play activities (like blocks or shape sorters) with older learners can be problematic and highlight the importance of transitioning to leisure skills as children mature, especially for teens and adults. Also, we touch on strategies for teaching play, including sensory-social routines, modeling, and focusing on student motivation.
Not sure where to start? Get some of our ideas for teaching independent and social play using our Play Flowchart below!
What’s Inside:
- How to use ABA programs to support play through the ages
- Issues with using outdated play activities with older learners
- Strategies to use when teaching play and leisure
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Episode 101: How to Teach Play and ABA
