Choosing the Right Books for Children with Special Needs
Some children can read over a book for hours while others may only glance at the cover. However, all children who like to look at printed pictures or printed words tend to enjoy books. Unlike spoken word, the pictures and print do not disappear after they’re read. They remain on the page so that your child can make sense of what he is seeing and hearing. A good book can also be read many times over. Each time your child hears a story, he understands more and more as the book’s language becomes familiar.
Some children with ASD have advanced ability to read and are often more interested in looking at words than pictures. Even though they can recognize long and difficult words, they don’t always understand what these words mean. That’s why in this reading, we will look at how books can use printed word to give your child information and a new way to express himself. The number one step to choose the right books for our kids.
How do we choose books for our children?
- Books that are good for pointing & naming things
Books that encourage pointing and labelling usually have one or two brightly colored pictures or photographs of thing that your child is familiar with. Usually these books are about alphabets, numbers, animal, vehicles and everyday items like food and toys. You can make use of these kind of books as a game! It can be fun to find a picture and you let your child to high-five it as fast as he/she can. It is also fun to search for a tiny cat or a hiding mouse on the page. These excite the children very much!
- Interactive Books
These kinds of books provide things for your child do even if he isn’t talking or pointing yet. Our children love books with flaps to lift, buttons to push and some fuzzy fabrics to touch. Most of the senses are used when reading these books which make it more interesting for the children.
- Easy and predictable books
Predictable books have repetitive words and phrases. It’s much easier to recall something said ten times that something said once. Books that repeat key phrases, such as “I see”, “I like” or “who is that?” are especially useful for your child. Predictable books are also ideal for a child who enjoys music because they have their own rhythm and rhymes. Most of these books are songs like “5 little ducks” or “5 little monkeys”.
- Books that generalize learned words
Once your child learns a new word in one situation, it is often difficult for him to transfer or use it in a different context. To help your child generalize, choose book that emphasize words he’s already learned in people, games, songs and daily routines. These type of books also help in sequencing. 
- Create a personalized book for your child
Do-it-your-own kind of books appeal to children at all ages. This is very similar to scrap books with photos of family, friends or even pictures of your child! They love it when they see themselves on print. You can create a special “personal story” on it like visiting a doctor or first swimming lessons. This gives your child information that will help him understand confusing or new situations.
Books are both beneficial and fun. However, choosing the right books will make it more meaningful to our children. Choose right books and you will see right results!