Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have unique strengths and challenges that affect their learning and development. They may have difficulties with communication, social interaction, sensory processing, attention, or executive functioning. They may also have special interests, preferences, and abilities that make them excel in certain areas.

One of the most effective and enjoyable ways to support children with ASD in their learning and development is through online learning games. Online learning games are interactive and engaging activities that use technology to deliver educational content and feedback. They can help children with ASD practice and improve various skills, such as cognitive, motor, language, social, and emotional skills.

In this blog post, we will introduce you to WonderTree’s online learning games for children with ASD. We will explain what WonderTree is, how it works, what benefits it offers, and what games you can try with your child.

What are the Issues Faced By Parents of Children with ASD?

Parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face numerous challenges in ensuring their children receive optimal education and therapy. Some of these challenges include:

• Limited access to qualified and affordable professionals: Finding experienced therapists and special educators for children with ASD can be difficult, especially in areas with limited resources and long waiting lists. The cost of therapy and specialized education programs can create financial barriers, adding to parents’ concerns and emotional strain.
• Difficulty finding engaging learning materials: Parents struggle to find educational resources and activities that meet their child’s unique needs while providing meaningful engagement. The lack of easily accessible and tailored materials hinders their child’s progress and limits learning opportunities, leading to frustration and a strong desire for suitable resources.
• Challenges in monitoring progress: Raising a child with ASD demands significant time and energy, leaving parents with limited resources to monitor and track their child’s progress. Regular assessment and tracking of development can be overwhelming, as parents strive to keep up with their child’s milestones and accomplishments, feeling the weight of responsibility.
• Heightened stress and anxiety levels: The demands and expectations of parenting a child with ASD result in increased levels of stress and anxiety. Balancing therapies, appointments, and daily routines while navigating the unique challenges of ASD takes a toll on parents’ mental and emotional well-being, requiring support and understanding.

To address these challenges, it is crucial to provide support systems and resources for parents of children with ASD. This can include increasing access to affordable therapy options, providing comprehensive educational materials, offering parent training and support groups, and implementing strategies to reduce stress and promote self-care for parents. Collaborative efforts between schools, healthcare professionals, and community organizations are essential in alleviating these challenges and ensuring that parents can provide their children with the best possible support and opportunities for growth and development.

What is WonderTree?

WonderTree is a platform that offers fun games for special education and physiotherapy that can enhance children’s motor, cognitive, and educational skills through interactive movement based games². WonderTree games are designed by experts in child psychology, special education, physiotherapy, and game development. They are based on research and evidence-based practices that support the development of various skills for children with special needs. WonderTree games are also customizable and adaptable to suit different levels of abilities and preferences of each child.

WonderTree games use augmented reality to make the games engaging and immersive for children. Augmented reality is a technology that overlays digital images or sounds onto the real world through a camera or a screen. For example, children can see bubbles or shapes appear on their hands or around them as they play games.

WonderTree also provides real-time progress and tracking for parents, teachers, and therapists to measure and monitor the child’s development after playing the games. WonderTree has a personalized dashboard that shows various performance parameters such as accuracy, speed, reaction time, attention span, memory recall, etc. These parameters can help identify the child’s strengths and areas of improvement and provide feedback and guidance for further intervention.

WonderTree games are easy to use and accessible to everyone. All you need is a laptop or a tablet with a webcam and an internet connection. You can download the games from the website or play them online. You can use WonderTree games at home, school, hospital, or anywhere else.

How WonderTree games help children with ASD?

WonderTree games can help children with ASD improve various skills that are essential for their learning and development. Some of these skills are:

• Cognitive skills: These are skills that involve thinking, reasoning, problem-solving, memory, attention, and executive functioning. WonderTree games can help children with ASD practice and improve these skills by providing them with challenging and stimulating tasks that require them to use these skills.
• Motor skills: These are skills that involve performing functional activities through movements of the body, such as walking, running, jumping, climbing, and throwing. WonderTree games can help children with ASD practice and improve these skills by providing them with physical activities that require them to use these skills. For example, they may have to pop bubbles of different sizes and colors, catch ice cream scoops of different flavors, or balance objects on a tray.
• Language skills: These are skills that involve understanding and using spoken or written words, such as listening, speaking, reading, and writing. WonderTree games can help children with ASD practice and improve these skills by providing them with language activities that require them to use these skills. For example, they may have to learn phonics sounds and words, and read sentences.
• Social skills: These are skills that involve communicating and interacting with others in appropriate and effective ways, such as making eye contact, taking turns, sharing, expressing emotions, and following rules. WonderTree games can help children with ASD practice and improve these skills by providing them with social activities that require them to use these skills.

What are some examples of WonderTree games that you can try with your child?

There are many types of WonderTree games that you can try with your child to help them improve their skills. Here are some examples:

• Bubble Pop: This game involves popping bubbles of different sizes and colors that appear on the screen or around the child. This game helps improve upper body strength, range of motion, reaction time, reflexes, and color recognition.
• Scoop’d: This game involves catching ice cream scoops of different flavors that fall from the sky using a cone or a bowl. This game helps improve hand-eye coordination, fine motor control, visual perception, and flavor recognition.
• Phonics Island: This game involves sailing a ship to different islands and learning different phonics sounds and words. This game helps improve phonics recognition, vocabulary, comprehension, and reading skills.
• Number Trace: This game involves tracing different numbers on the screen or on paper. This game helps improve number recognition, counting skills, writing skills, and math skills.

Online learning games are fun and effective ways to help children with ASD improve their skills. They can also provide other benefits such as motivation, feedback, engagement, and flexibility. You can try different types of games with your child at home or at school, using online platforms, apps, or paper-based materials.

If you want to see how WonderTree games can help your child with ASD develop their skills, visit our website and try out the games for free. You will be amazed by the results!