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Attention Autism

IANDS - Advice For Parents - Communication - Sharing attention in play - Attention Autism - Introduction
Attention Autism is an approach created by Gina Davies, speech and language therapist.
 
You can follow ‘Gina Davies’ on Facebook and YouTube also has lots of ideas and videos .
 
There is a Facebook group called ‘Attention Autism Sharing Group’, for parents, teachers and therapists.

Why use Attention Autism?

  • It supports the development of joint attention.
  • It builds anticipation of what is happening next.
  • It supports the understanding of language.
  • It’s motivating and fun! This means your child is more likely to be engaged.
How to do it

How to do it

Setting up

Setting up

  1. Find a medium sized container that can be closed. For example, a bucket, bag or a shoebox.
  2. Find 3 exciting items or toys your child does not usually play with.
  3. Use a blank sheet of paper and a felt tip.
  4. Put the toys in the bucket/box/bag and close it. Keep what is inside a surprise.
  5. Clear the room as much as possible, tidy away toys or cover them up with a blanket.
  6. Position yourself in a clear space (few distractions as possible) sitting on the floor or small stool, with the bucket by your side, and the paper/pen ready.
  7. If possible, find another adult and get them to sit with your child around 1 to 1.5 metres away. This can be on the floor, on a chair or sitting on someone’s lap – whatever they find most comfortable. Over time they may learn to sit independently to watch, but this doesn’t matter now!
The Game

The Game

  1. First draw the bucket/bag/box on the paper, write bucket/bag/box underneath, point to your picture and say, “it’s time for bucket/bag/box”.
  2. Put the paper and pen down next to you, you will need them later!
  3. Sing the bucket/bag/box song: “I’ve got something in my bucket/bag/box, in my bucket/bag/box, in my bucket/bag/box, I’ve got something in my bucket/bag/box...I wonder what it is!”
  4. Open the bucket, take out a toy, play with it, name it, put it back in the bucket.
  5. Repeat with next two toys.
  6. Pick up the paper and pen, cross out the bucket/bag/box. Then say, “my bucket/bag/box is finished! Next, it’s time for…” (Draw what is next on the back of the whiteboard/paper e.g., snack, walk).
  7. Take the bucket away quickly and place out of reach. Follow through with what is next!

The Rules

  1. Have fun! Be amazed at the objects in the bucket, smile, laugh, enjoy!
  2. Less is more – use key word language only - name the item, then use 1-2 words to describe the object or action. E.g., “sponge! squeeze…”
  3. Do not let your child play with the bucket toys because then their attention will be on the toy and not you and the toy.
  4. Do not try and engage your child by asking them questions during the bucket, or giving them directions to e.g., look at that. Instead, we model focussing and enjoying ourselves with facial expressions and body language! Show them what this looks like!

Top Tips

  1. If space is tight, it’s even more important to keep the bucket at your side, (not in-front of you), giving a visual clue that the bucket and toys belong to you.
  2. If your child struggles with trying to get to the toy, keep it even shorter and quicker! Over time, they will become more familiar with the routine.
  3. The more fun you have, the more your child will want to sit and watch!
  4. Keep it quick! First, we want to build a fun, familiar and quick routine. Gradually we work to build longer focus and attention in the next stages.
  5. Little and often. Quick routine, three times a week if you can manage it. If you want to do more (once a day) then that’s great!
  6. Use the same bucket/bag/box every time, and don’t use the container for anything else if you can. This container then becomes a visual clue, an object of reference, so when your child sees it, they know it’s time for the Attention Autism game.

Creative, home-made ideas to go inside

  • Tupperware with lid, inside a little water and a sponge, squeeze out the sponge, watch/listen to it drip.
  • Make your own silly glasses – stick different colours of paper on to of a pair of sunglasses.
  • Jar of little figures, line them up one at a time and count them back in the jar.
  • Wrap up objects in tin foil, unwrap them one at a time, count them back in the bucket.
  • Plastic/paper cups that you can build a pyramid up (say “up, up, up”) then you can knock it over (“ready, steady, crash”) or take down by putting one cup over the over to make a stack.
  • Jam jar with lid, inside a little water (maybe coloured with paint or food colouring) and syringe (one that you use for medicine), draw up some water in the syringe (make a fun sound e.g. “weeeeeee”) and then squirt it out (e.g. “ready, steady, wooooooosh”).
  • Jam jar or drink bottle with glitter, coloured water, buttons etc. inside. You can shake it all up and watch the things move around (or swirl around like a tornado).
  • Any of your children’s toys that do interesting things e.g., wind up car, bubbles, balloon, rocket launcher, light up ball, musical instrument.
  • Make a DIY paper spinner!
Last updated20 Jan 2025