Can children on the autism spectrum play pretend? Does autism make kids unable to pretend play? Some people think so. Some believe that ASD diagnosed children are incapable of pretend play.
Dr. Stanley Greenspan certainly didn’t think so. In fact, the Greenspan Floortime model includes informed and effective play psychotherapy as a key aspect of its therapeutic process. Dr. Greenspan also taught that ASD youngsters can learn to play pretend at home with their parents.
In fact, pretend play engages a child’s emotions, including a child on the autism spectrum. Pretend play helps build a child’s use of words, concepts and symbols. Interactive drama can be a very effective therapeutic tool. On page 124 of their book Engaging Autism: Using the Floortime Approach to Help Children Relate, Communicate, and Think, Dr. Greenspan and Dr. Wieder say to “teach not just with words but also with images, actions, and drama.”
The Floortime Center uses three key principles to help children with autism develop further. The first Greenspan Floortime principle is following a child’s lead to join their world, harness motivation, and help the child feel more in control. The second Floortime principle is to challenge the child to move up the developmental ladder, helping with social problem-solving, thinking, and tolerating stress/frustration. Thirdly, to expand (without taking control) to encourage creativity, abstract thinking, and understanding dynamic patterns.