Choosing People Games that Fit Your Child’s Sensory Preferences

One of Hanen’s most-read articles of the year — and for good reason

One of my favorite ways to connect with young kids is through “people games.” These are simple, no-toy games like peek-a-boo, chase, or fingerplay songs—familiar and fun routines that kids love. But what really makes them powerful, especially for autistic children, is when they’re tailored to each child’s unique sensory preferences.

Hanen’s article “Choosing People Games that Include Your Child’s Sensory Preferences” was one of their most-read last year, and it’s no surprise why. It’s packed with helpful examples and ideas for how to make play more meaningful by tuning in to what your child enjoys most.

Why these games work so well

Some kids love movement. Others crave deep pressure, visual input, or rhythm. When we build on what already feels good to them, we’re making connection easier and communication more natural.

People games are:

• Predictable – same steps each time, which helps reduce uncertainty

• Interactive – full of natural turn-taking and shared attention

• Sensory-friendly – easy to adapt based on your child’s likes and needs

Here are a few examples from the article:

Want support putting this into practice?

I’m a certified More Than Words provider and love helping families use people games to support connection and language in ways that feel natural and fun. I also bring in strategies from Jessie Ginsburg’s Sensory Integration & Regulation course and Learn Play Thrive, a neurodiversity-affirming program created by occupational therapist Meg Proctor, MS, OTR/L.

If you’d like 1:1 support, feel free to reach out. We can figure out what your child loves and use those strengths to build communication through play and everyday routines.

Let’s connect and play.

🧠 Supporting Carryover at Home for TBI & MCI

Therapy doesn’t end when the session does — especially when it comes to cognitive communication. For individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), home practice is a critical part of reinforcing skills, improving independence, and promoting brain health.

That’s why I integrate Constant Therapy and other structured supports into your care — so you have access to engaging, evidence-based exercises between sessions. Here’s how I make that work for you:

✅ Easy Access with Constant Therapy (No Tech Headaches!)

I use a program called Constant Therapy during our sessions to work on attention, memory, problem-solving, and language skills. It’s interactive and tailored to your specific needs.

When we meet virtually:

• You don’t need to download anything — I’ll screen-share the activities
• You’ll just answer out loud while I guide you step-by-step
• It’s completely hands-off and stress-free on your end

Between sessions, I can assign homework activities through the Constant Therapy app so you can continue practicing at home. Clients often say this helps them feel more confident and consistent with their therapy progress.

📱 How At-Home Practice Works

Want to practice outside of our scheduled time?

1. I’ll set up your profile
2. You’ll get access to a personalized plan via the Constant Therapy app
3. You can use a free trial, then decide if you’d like to continue
4. I’ll monitor your progress and adjust activities as needed

Whether you’re working on remembering appointments, following directions, or improving word-finding — this practice helps strengthen real-world skills in between our check-ins.

💬 More Than an App: Real-Life Strategies Too

In addition to tech tools, I provide:

• Written strategies and visuals to support daily routines
• Tips for care partners to reinforce skills naturally
• Cognitive training tools adapted for your specific goals

My goal is always the same: to help you use your communication and cognitive strengths in your everyday life — not just in therapy.

🤝 Why the Partnership Matters

We know that apps don’t create change on their own — it’s not just the technology that helps. Real progress comes from the therapeutic alliance between client and clinician, the intentional strategies used, and the guidance an SLP provides throughout the process. It’s this partnership that transforms practice into progress.

Research supports this idea. The working alliance — the collaborative bond and mutual engagement between client and therapist — has been shown to be a strong predictor of outcomes in cognitive-communication therapy, even when digital tools are used. (Sohlberg, M.M., et al., 2020)

📞 Want to Learn More?

If you or a loved one is living with TBI or MCI and could benefit from personalized speech therapy and cognitive support, I’d love to help. Reach out today to learn more or schedule a consultation.

Flashlight Fun: Hide stickers, favorite toys, pictures, etc. around a room and turn the lights off. Use a flashlight to find the items. Talk about where they are (e.g., under, next to), what category they are (e.g., animal, food), describe them (e.g., by color, shape). Take turns hiding and seeking. 

Story Time at Home or Libraries: Shared book reading is the #1 recommended activity for children. Check out Portland’s Story Time here: https://multcolib.org/events/storytimes

Virtual Field Trips and Live Cams: While screen time should be minimized for children,  exploring and engaging together in online activities is okay and a perfect rainy day activity. Check out this list from the SciTech Institute: https://scitechinstitute.org/category/virtualfieldtrips/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAnsqdBhCGARIsAAyjYjTF3ddOWg5wVuNUr9nYrgW8AvQFTb7syBeroMlzzJmY2tybbom2ZR8aAhv-EALw_wcB

Make a Blanket Fort: This idea is great for all ages. Have fun building the fort and then playing, reading, snuggling, and coloring while inside. 

Or try a Cardboard Fort: Break out some tape and markers and make a fort, plane, truck, garage…anything you can imagine. Read “Not a Box” on YouTube to keep the inspiration flowing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svlNiELjDao

Play Games: Games are great for play and how children learn. Have fun and laugh together. 

Get Moving: Play Simon Says, Red Light – Green Light, Dance, or do a GoNoodle or Freeze Dance together. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1vdKfXlB_g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svlNiELjDao

Mr. Rogers once said, “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”

Children learn through play, and we often use games and play in speech therapy. Not only does this capture their attention and motivate the child, but it also encourages learning. Ginsburg (2007) noted, “Play is important to healthy brain development. It is through play that children at a very early age engage and interact in the world around them.”

Whatever the age or goals, speech therapy can incorporate play. SLPs provide a thoughtful, planned approach to play-based sessions. It may look like it’s “just playing,” but it’s work!

ASHA Offers Suggestions for Low-Tech Gifts That Reap Big Rewards by Age Group

(Rockville, Md. – November 16, 2021) With gaming systems, “smart” toys, and other electronics in short supply this holiday season due to a microchip shortage, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is suggesting holiday gift alternatives that will help kids boost their language and learning, social skills, and imaginations—at any age.

“For holiday gift giving, ASHA has customarily encouraged families to embrace low-tech toys because they can contribute to children’s development in many ways,” said ASHA President A. Lynn Williams, PhD, CCC-SLP. “They include boosting their vocabularies, conversation and turn taking skills, socialization, ability to solve problems, imagination, creativity, attention spans, and more.”

The goal of treatment is to maintain quality of life of the person with dementia for as long as possible.

Early detection and treatment is critical. Although most dementia (including Alzheimer’s) is not reversible, SLPs can help slow/delay the progression and compensate – improving independence, safety, and quality of life.

An SLP can help a person with dementia stay as independent as possible. The SLP may work on attention, memory, problem solving, and higher-level thinking skills. Some strategies that the SLP may teach a person with dementia include

• practicing learning important information;
• using written words or pictures to help carry out tasks;
• making “memory books” to help remember personal information; and
• training family members and caregivers on how to communicate better with the person with dementia.

The SLP also can work with a person with dementia to make sure they can eat safely.

(Credits: ASHA)