Need advice- What should I be working on with ds? (Autism)

[Love2learn]

My ds is 2 1/2 and has an autism diagnosis. He loves to label things but doesn't talk anymore than that and doesn't really communicate. He has delays in most areas. He doesn't play with other kids. He doesn't do any imaginary play at all. He doesn't even know how to play by himself like other kids do.

We can't afford to send him to preschool at this time. He is getting some therapy until he turns 3- speech, OT, and physical. Since he doesn't go to preschool, I have been trying to work with him at home. I have so many ideas of things to do with him that I am overwhelmed. I am also 7 months pregnant and tired. Not to mention I am now diabetic and trying to get used to the diet and insulin, etc.

So I am trying to prioritize my time. I know I can't do everything I want to with him. But I don't know which things are more beneficial. Some of the things I'm wanting to do with him are sensory/OT activities, we try to color or do some kind of "craft", read books, and I also have books of preschool activites/ideas. I have kind of been getting ideas from letteroftheweek.com's preporatory program. But I am thinking since he has autism maybe I shouldn't be doing typical preschool stuff? I just checked out the floortime book at the library and am wanting to incorporate that too. I know there is only 24 hours in a day and I can't do it all!

He gets brighter vision curriculum in the mail and loves it mostly because he likes to memorize the pages and label things. I am thinking maybe I shouldn't spend so much time on this stuff and do more floortime? We go to the library twice a week for storytime and plan to do a mom's group twice a month to get him around other kids.

What would be most beneficial at this age? Is regular preschool stuff a waste of time? Should I try to do as much floortime as possible?

I am wanting to do so much that I am overwhelmed.
I would love some specific ideas on things that would be the most beneficial for him at this age.

Thanks!

[feebeeglee]

I was going to recommend Floortime and I see you're already there. I Floortime!!

Floortime can be incorporated into any activity the child enjoys - that's pretty much the whole point. Also look into RDI, especially the book Relationship Development Intervention with Young Children. It's like a cookbook for Floortime-y activities to do with your kid.

[Theoretica]

I don't know if this helps, but when my spectrum kiddo was 2-4 we focused on eye contact and communication. Just silly games basically, but every time he glanced my way I'd squeal and say something like Yeay, Eyes! and give him a smartie or m&m or whatever. Then we'd go back to 'playing' (lining up cars or crayons) on the floor. We'd do some sensory stuff throughout the day (playdough, shaving cream painting, make cookies, name it) and have snack time where I'd 'hide' his snack (in front of him) and work with him on saying 'hello' when it appeared, or encourage him to point (or just look) at where it was. We did a lot of signing with him, as it was easier than speaking, and that helped with the grunting. Of course there was lots of time for spinning and twirling etc., gotta make room for that

Anyways, I hope that helps? Just go with his current abilities and start nudging him gently towards learning new skills. I wouldn't stress about any curriculum or anything, not because he's on the spectrum but more because I think each kiddo is different and they learn as they go. Course we're a homeschooling family now (thanks to this exact situation) and it's been 12 years since he was two....sheesh!

Bellevuemama