Description: Embracing Play DVD teaches parents how to keep a child with autism engaged through what comes naturally to most children---play. Playing is the doorway for a parent and young child with autism to connect and communicate. And this video gives parents a way to open that doorway. For a child with autism, interactions with people and objects such as toys can be very difficult or atypical. This video is an ideal tool for parents of newly diagnosed children waiting to begin a formal program such as ABA or for parents and therapists who want to supplement an ongoing course of therapy. Embracing Play shows dozens of play sessions between parent or professional and child. Using a technique called Object Focused Play, developed by the Behavioral Intervention Association, the video teaches parents how to use toys to capture a child’s attention and initiate learning. Very easy-to-follow, these scenes allow parents to replicate the same play activities at home, and begin to help their child interact with people and objects in their surrounding environment. To get started, first establish what toy or activity a child is most interested in. This "entry point," such as pouring water or dropping a ball, sets the foundation for simple play routines and helps maintain a child’s interest, which is crucial. Trying to establish a regular schedule of play sessions is another key to success, as often as 3 hours per day, 5 days a week if possible. Embracing Play opens up new avenues of interaction and learning for children with autism. The benefits of these play skills pave the way for communication and social development.