Main description:

*Strong potential: early intervention is critical for kids with autism.
*Provides easy-to-learn, playful ways for parents to help their toddlers and preschoolers.
*Based on the authors' Early Start program, shown by research to improve communication, behavior, and IQ.
*Early Start is one of the few validated programs for young children with ASD-and the only one for toddlers.
*Doable strategies fit easily into family routines and are compatible with any type of treatment.

Contents:

Introduction I. Getting Started 1. Setting Up Your Child's Early Intervention Program 2. Taking Care of Yourself and Your Family 3. How Your Early Efforts Can Help Your Child Engage with Others and Boost Your Child's Learning II. Everyday Strategies to Help Your Child Engage, Communicate, and Learn 4. Step into the Spotlight: Capturing Your Child's Attention 5. Find the Smile!: Having Fun with Sensory Social Routines 6. It Takes Two to Tango: Building Back-and-Forth Interactions 7. Talking Bodies: The Importance of Nonverbal Communication 8. "Do What I Do!": Helping Your Child Learn by Imitating 9. Let's Get Technical: How Children Learn 10. The Joint Attention Triangle: Sharing Interests with Others 11. It's Playtime! 12. Let's Pretend! 13. Moving into Speech 14. Putting It All Together Appendix. Toys and Books for Your Young Child with Autism Resources