Ming explains how to use rewards to build language and social skills in autistic children. Place a reward in a sealed container so the child must gesture or speak to request it, creating communication opportunities that push them beyond their comfort zone.
When we have a reward, we want to use that to increase the child's language abilities, social skills, play skills. That requires a kid walking outside of his or her comfort zone, which is quite difficult for a child who is on the spectrum because every time going outside of one's comfort zone, you must break some of the rules that you set for yourself. Rules are very important for autistic people. When we have those rewards, next step is to create communication opportunities. Basically, when you find a reward, what you do next is to think about how to use that reward to create situations where the child has to communicate with you. Okay, One of the ways that we like to do is a super structured method like you put the reward inside of a container, you give it to the kid. Can't open it, he has to give it back. He will have to communicate some sort sort of thing to you with a gesture or whatnot and then afterwards you give the reward to your kid.
