Teaching Social Skills to Children with Autism Using Minecraft®

Motivation, in autism, switches us on! Outside of ‘interest’ connecting to social understanding is unlikely. The author of this book recognises this understanding. Such a resource is unique and has been a long time coming. I am excited by and highly recommend this insightful book. – Wenn B. Lawson (PhD) Psychology. AFBPsS; MAPs. Senior Consultant Complex Support. SA. Dept. of Ed. Disability, Policy & PlanningChildren with autism often develop talents in specific areas, such as playing computer games, but have difficulties with the social skills needed to develop friendships. This ingenious and engaging group programme uses motivation and game-playing talents to teach specific social skills. By discovering new worlds within Minecraft, the participants explore and acquire the social abilities needed to make friends. – Dr Tony Attwood, Minds and Hearts Clinic, Brisbane

March’s Autism Book of the Month is: Teaching Social Skills to Children with Autism Using Minecraft® ??Sure Lego therapy is cool, but have you heard about how Minecraft is being used to develop social skills in autistic children?A SUPER accessible step by step guide to improving communication ability in younger autists, ‘Teaching Social Skills to Children with Autism Using Minecraft’ stands apart from other stuffy autism support manuals by suggesting that the literal building blocks to verbal & collaborative success may lie in the global gaming phenomenon that is Minecraft: a creation simulator/videogame.While, most autism support guides have a tendency to be quite dry, or assuming of how much a reader knows, TSSTCWAUS does a fantastic job of explaining why autistic people struggle socialising and it’s clear explanations mean that there is plenty of autism lessons to learn (even if, by the end, you decide not to trial the new therapy).An innovative read, set to shake up the world of autism therapies, I highly recommend ‘Teaching Social Skills to Children with Autism Using Minecraft’ for parents with autistic children born in the 2000s. Autistic & Unapologetic

Raelene Dundon is a late diagnosed Autistic ADHDer and is an Educational and Developmental Psychologist and Play Therapist. She is the Director of Okey Dokey Childhood Therapy, a large multidisciplinary practice in Melbourne, Australia and a lecturer at Deakin University. Raelene has over 15 years’ experience providing support to neurodivergent children and their families.