At SSM Health Treffert Center Autism Services, nurturing relationships – a core tenant of Treffert Approach – is the foundation of our intervention program, and those relationships are built through connection.
When I started doing direct care work as a technician at Treffert Autism Services, I had a supervisor who said something that changed my perspective on connection. This incident occurred during training when a child was engaging in some difficult behaviors and throwing items at us. It wasn’t too extreme and, really, looked like he just wanted our attention, so the other trainee and I were not inclined to give it to him, or perhaps even to reprimand him.
To paraphrase my supervisor, she suggested that instead of viewing this behavior as attention-seeking, we should consider it as connection-seeking. “He just wants to connect with you,” she said. And then she showed us how to connect with the child appropriately. I doubt she realized she created a core memory for me in that instant. I have a feeling this was a conversation she’d had 100 times before.
Now that I’m a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA), I have that conversation with others - with staff, with parents, with peers. “They just want to connect with you.” But how do you connect with a small child who doesn’t know how?
Well, you play.
And one of the best ways to play with a child, with or without autism, is to engage them in a whole body play experience called Sensory Social Routines – or SSRs, for people who don’t have time for that tongue twister. No toys, no rules, just you and the child, connecting. It’s a technique that’s regularly used in the Early Start Denver Model form of early intensive behavioral intervention for small children with autism.
In essence, SSRs are song and game routines (such as patty-cake, peek-a-boo, five little monkeys, and the itsy-bitsy spider) that involve face-to-face interaction between an adult and a child, close enough to touch. The routine is played through and as the child becomes engaged, you can introduce pauses that enhance the fun. Since SSRs are “routines,” they can be repeated as many times as the child finds enjoyable, continually fostering that connection.
When executed effectively, SSRs can boost communication through eye contact, gestures, and words. It can enhance gross and fine motor skills, encourage both visible and non-visible imitation, foster variations in facial expressions and emotional understanding, promote turn-taking, increase play variability, and more.
And the best part? It’s straightforward! Here’s how to do it:
- Capture the child’s attention.
- Position yourself face-to-face and close enough to touch.
- Play the game one to three times through.
- Find the smile! Identify the “big event” in the game that excites the child.
- During the next round, pause for up to five seconds right before that big event, giving the child a chance to communicate (through eye contact, gestures, sounds, etc.).
- After each round of the SSR, pause again, waiting up to five seconds for a communication cue.
- Play for as long as you and the child desire, adding fun variations as you go.
That’s all there is to it! Once you’ve established a few SSRs with a child, you’ve likely become a trusted adult. An adult who, not always but sometimes, gives them their undivided attention through play, an adult who listens to their communication cues, and adult who is safe to give eye contact to. You become an adult who sees them, connects with them, and builds a meaningful relationship with them.
