Turn-taking is a key social skill that helps children with autism navigate conversations, play, and group activities. Learning this skill can be challenging, as it requires patience, communication, and an understanding of social cues. Encouraging interactions around common interests can make the learning process more enjoyable and meaningful. Using interactive games and structured activities further enhances engagement, promoting cooperation, confidence, and stronger peer relationships.
10 Fun and Engaging Turn-Taking Games for Kids with Autism
Turn-taking is a fundamental social skill that helps children with autism navigate conversations, play, and group activities. Mastering this skill encourages patience, communication, and social engagement. Using interactive games creates an enjoyable and structured way to reinforce turn-taking, making learning fun and rewarding. Below are ten engaging games designed to enhance turn-taking skills in a supportive and interactive manner.
1. Roll the Ball
Rolling a ball back and forth between two or more players encourages patience and engagement. This simple game helps children understand when it’s their turn and reinforces the concept of waiting. Caregivers can model appropriate language by saying, “My turn” and “Your turn” to reinforce communication skills.
2. Pop the Pig
This exciting game involves feeding a pig hamburgers until its belly pops. Players take turns rolling the dice and selecting burgers, adding an element of anticipation and excitement. The clear structure of the game helps children with autism understand when their turn is coming, teaching them patience and promoting engagement and shared attention.
3. Zingo!
Zingo! is a bingo-style game that encourages children to match pictures on their cards. Players take turns drawing tiles, which helps reinforce vocabulary and communication skills. With a fast-paced structure, Zingo! keeps wait times short, making it an excellent option for children who struggle with patience.
4. Musical Chairs
Musical chairs teach turn-taking in a high-energy setting. Players walk around chairs while music plays, then race to sit when the music stops. Children learn to wait for their turn and understand social cues while engaging in a fun and physical activity.
5. Simon Says
This classic game encourages children to listen and follow directions while taking turns being the leader. The game reinforces social engagement and comprehension skills by requiring players to wait, observe, and act only when they hear “Simon says.”
6. Board Games with Simple Rules
Board games such as Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders provide a structured turn-taking experience. Rolling dice and moving pieces along the board help children learn patience and anticipation. Simple instructions make it easier for children with autism to follow along and enjoy the game.
7. Building Block Towers
Taking turns adding blocks to a tower fosters cooperation and patience. Games like Jenga or simple block-stacking challenges help children practice waiting for their turn while developing fine motor skills. The excitement of watching the tower grow (or fall!) keeps the game engaging.
8. Interactive Storytelling
Children take turns adding to a story, either verbally or with picture cards. This activity promotes creativity, communication, and engagement while reinforcing the importance of waiting for their turn to contribute. Visual supports can help structure the activity and provide additional guidance.
9. Turn-Taking with Sensory Toys
Sensory toys such as car ramps, ball runs, or textured fidget toys make turn-taking games more engaging. Each player gets a turn to roll a ball down a ramp or press a pop-it toy, helping reinforce patience and social engagement in a sensory-friendly way.
10. Hide and Seek
This game helps children practice waiting and understanding social cues. Whether taking turns hiding or seeking, the game provides a clear structure that reinforces patience and encourages interactive play. The excitement of finding someone or being found adds a fun element to the learning process.
Turn-taking games provide a fun and interactive way to teach essential social skills to children with autism. By incorporating structured play activities, caregivers and educators can create a supportive learning environment that builds patience, cooperation, and communication. Choosing games with clear rules and limited wait times ensures a positive experience that encourages social engagement and confidence.
The 8 Benefits of Turn-Taking Games for Kids with Autism
Turn-taking games are an effective way to teach effective communication skills to children with autism. These games encourage patience, communication, and cooperation while making learning fun and engaging. Below are the key benefits of incorporating turn-taking activities into playtime.
Incorporating turn-taking games into daily activities helps children with autism develop crucial social, emotional, and cognitive skills. By making learning enjoyable and structured, these games create opportunities for meaningful connections and personal growth.
Incorporating Turn-Taking Games at Home
Incorporating turn-taking games at home helps children with autism practice social skills in a familiar and comfortable environment. Simple games like board games, rolling a ball back and forth, or interactive storytelling encourage patience, communication, and engagement. Adding these activities to daily routines strengthens their ability to take turns naturally in different social settings.
At Strides ABA, we provide high-quality, personalized ABA therapy designed to support social skill development in a fun and engaging way. Contact us today if you’re looking for expert autism services in New York and New Jersey and learn how we can help your child thrive!
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