Way to Play
Experience the joy of play with your child on the autism spectrum
We provide support and information for parents/whānau and professionals who have completed the Way to Play workshop.
Way to Play is an Autism New Zealand workshop for parents, caregivers, whānau, health and education professionals and anyone directly involved with a young child on the autism spectrum. We can provide you with practical strategies to engage in joyous play together with your child.
The Way to Play one-day workshop is an introduction to playing with children on the Autism Spectrum. Playing with a child with autism can be a bewildering and challenging experience. The Way to Play workshop provides simple, easy to use strategies to begin playing joyously together.
Contact us now to book a Way to Play workshop.
Phone: (04) 803 3501
Email: training@autismnz.org.nz
What you can do online:
– Resources, research, tips and tricks
– Ask questions of our coaches
– Engage with others in your local area
Your Way to Play coaches
Neil has over 20 years experience working with children with Autism. He has developed a large number of education and training programmes, including Way to Play, Framework for Autism in New Zealand (FANZ), Tilting the Seesaw, and many more. Neil also has considerable experience working with children with Autism in the mainstream classroom both in New Zealand and in the United Kingdom. This has included managing satellite classes in mainstream schools and advising schools on how best to include pupils with Autism.
Tanya is a mother of two daughters, one of whom is on the Autism Spectrum. She is an EarlyBird Trainer and has worked as a Teacher Aide in a Special School. Tanya is a joint contributor and developer of the Autism New Zealand suite of education programmes and travels the country delivering them. Her valuable experience living with someone with Autism provides excellent insight and adds a realistic, down-to-earth parent perspective to our programmes.
Penny is a fully registered teacher, and has taught in Kindergarten classes for over 14 years. She joined Autism New Zealand in early 2023. Penny is passionate about advocating for Autistic Tamariki in ECE and Schools around Aotearoa using her professional knowledge, and her lived experience, to support those living within our Autistic community.
Tanya has two teenage daughters, one of whom is Autistic. Tanya has been jointly involved developing the education programmes and enjoys travelling the country presenting them with unique lived experience and humour since 2011.
Josie has a background of teaching and values the importance of sharing her knowledge with others; her aim is to proactively work with professionals to ensure a consistent, meaningful and supportive approach. Josie is passionate and thrives on being part of a team who educates, empowers and supports the autistic community.
What workshop participants will learn:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the importance of play for a young child with Autism.
- Use simple play strategies such as pretend play, playing with toys and being a guide.
- Identify methods of play such as, pattern, memory, variation and interrupting.
- Set play goals.
- Identify their role in playing with a young child.
- Identify the style of play that best suits the child.
