How to Create Folder Games for Children With Autism

Sight words folder game

Folder games are useful tools for educating children with autism in basic concepts and they allow for repetition of key concepts. Folder games are very versatile and many games can be created quickly, cheaply and easily. To illustrate the simplicity of creating a folder game, follow these steps to create a folder game for teaching sight words.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Manila file folder
• Markers
• Crayons
• Scissors
• Clear packing tape
• Internet access (optional for most games)
• Printer (optional for most games)
• Laminating sheets, packing tape or clear contact paper (optional)
• Envelope (optional)

1. Decide the focus of the game. The end goal should be to teach a new concept or skill. Folder games can be used to illustrate a variety of concepts. A game could be created to teach children about animal habitats, numbers, colors, holidays, capital and lowercase letters, or different food groups. The possibilities really are endless. In this example the goal will to be having the child match printed words with the images representing those words. Identifying sight words (words children can read by sight alone) are an important step in the reading process.

2. Gather the images or text needed for your game. In the example pictured clip art found online and text typed on Microsoft Word where used to create the necessary elements for the folder game. Alternatively images from magazines or newspapers could have been used to illustrate the concept.

3. Cut the images and text apart. Glue the appropriate images onto the file folder. For the sight words file folder game the images were glued on one side of the folder and an envelope used to hold the words was glued on the other site of the folder.

4. Cover exposed images with packing tape, laminate or clear contact paper. If you plan on using the game more than once then images will have to be protected from moisture and dirt. Heat set laminate is the best protection for folder games that will be used in a classroom setting or that will be handled by multiple children over a long period of time. Self adhesive laminate sheets or clear contact paper are an affordable option for games that will be handled less frequently. Clear packing tape is a nice way to protect smaller images in folder games and is relatively inexpensive.

5. Play the game. Children with autism often require repetition to learn a new skill or concept. Be patient and encouraging when playing folder games. Focus more attention on correct answers than incorrect ones and give frequent praise.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to incorporate the child’s interests into the folder games you create. For example: If the child needs to learn to match colors and has an interest in cars then the folder game should feature images of cars.

• If the child loses focus on the game attempt to redirect his attention back to the folder game. If the child becomes frustrated it is better to close the folder and try again later than to further aggravate the child.

Resources

• Teaching children with autism: printables can help.