Playdates are an important way for children to build connections, communication, and shared experiences. For children on the spectrum, initial playdates may look a little different, and that’s okay. Every child approaches social interaction in their own way. Some children may take time to warm up, prefer predictable routines, or feel more comfortable in familiar, smaller, and/or structured settings. With the right support, first playdates can become positive experiences that help children...

Messy play is an essential part of early childhood development. Activities like finger painting, sand play, mud, shaving cream, and slime help children build the skills they need for feeding, dressing, fine motor development, and play. They are some of the most important ways young children learn to tolerate sensory input and use their hands skillfully to engage with the world around them. For many children with autism, messy play is also one of the clearest windows into how their tactile...

When a child is diagnosed with autism, families are often introduced to multiple therapy recommendations at once. They invariably need to wrestle with how to balance ABA , occupational therapy, and speech therapy . That is an important question, because many parents are told to prioritize ABA and fit everything else around it, or at a later date. In practice, that often leads families to view occupational therapy as something optional or secondary. It is not secondary. Pediatric occupational...