Get The Fly

Autism Strengths & Interests

Short Summary of Strengths & Interests

• Letter recognition
• Matching letters, colors, and pictures
• Self-control

Is good at matching visual items

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
Get the Fly requires visual matching of colors, letters, and/or pictures.

Has a good memory for sensory details, including visual, touch, taste and smell

Is This Game Appropriate? No

Description
Memory is not required to play the game. However, a memory for letter shapes will help the child recall the letter names and maybe letter sounds.

Has a good memory for words, phrases and dialouge

Is This Game Appropriate? No

Description
No language is required to play, but naming the letters does require memory and should be encouraged.

Has a good memory for pictures, numbers and patterns

Is This Game Appropriate? No

Description
Memory for letter names can be encouraged. Matching of the letters and frogs does not require memory.

Likes to put things in order or a sequence

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
Players make sets of like frogs as they draw cards from other players. This is a form of making order out of disorder.

Learns through visualizing or "replaying" actions in their mind

Is This Game Appropriate? No

Description
No replaying in the mind is needed, as players group cards as they are drawn.

Likes activities with rules, such as math and phonics

This game is not appropriate

Is very concrete and literal

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
Get The Fly is very concrete, using pictures of cute frogs and alphabet letters for matching.

Learns in small "chunks" (for example, phone numbers are 3 chunks of number xxx-xxx-xxxx that are combined together)

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
Players make sets of four of each frog and its letter.

Is good at nonverbal reasoning and logic

This game is not appropriate

Likes spatial problem solving

This game is not appropriate

Can read well with good vocabulary, though may not fully comprehend content

This game is not appropriate

Likes to use and has good fine motor skill

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
Fine motor skills are needed to hold the cards and fan them out so the letters are visible. Players also have to pull one card at a time from another players hand and place it carefully next to similar cards in their hand.

Likes established routines or set ways of doing things

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
The game is played the same way each time, making the game predictable.

Likes manipulating, constructing or building things

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description

Likes to use and has good musical abilities

This game is not appropriate

Likes to use and has good drawing skills

This game is not appropriate

Autism Special Considerations

Appears to ignore other's communication and/or has difficulty giving eye contact to a communication partner

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Players do not have to give eye contact or communicate with other players.

Has difficulty understanding complex verbal directions

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification?Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
The directions for Get the Fly are not difficult. Players only have to pick a card from another player, make pairs, and try to hang on to the Fly card. Children with autism are often very literal and have difficulty" bluffing," so they may need to be reminded not to talk about where the fly card is located when it is in their hand or when they draw it.

Uses vocabulary inaccurately or demonstrates echolalia (repeating another's speech)

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Unless the echolalia is extensive and totally off topic, it should not interfere with other players turns. Discussion and concentration are not necessary for this game, so repetition of what other players are saying should not interfere with game play.

Gets stuck repeating a verbal topic or physical actions and/or has difficulty attending to others' actions or topic.

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Strategy is not involved in playing Get The Fly, so distracting talk or actions should not interfere with game play.

Has difficulty producing speech/communication

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Communication is not needed to play the game, but discussion about the different frogs in the game may enhance the play. Players can refer to the information sheet to point out their favorite frogs. Children with autism often get interested in visual details, so discussion of the different characteristics of the frogs may appeal to them.

Has difficulty sequencing multi-step actions and/or doing complex abstract tasks

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Only two steps are involved in a turn, drawing a card from another player and looking for matches of letters or frogs. This makes the game easy to play for children who need simple rules.

Demonstrates difficulty initiating and maintaining social interactions

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
The game entails drawing a card from another player's hand, but eye contact is not needed. Players may need to prompt the child with autism that it is their turn, if they are not following the turns of other players. For example, "Josie just had a turn, so whose turn is it now?" This encourages the child to join the interaction.

Acts out or demonstrates avoidance behaviors when frustrated, overwhelmed, or needs more sensory input.

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Get The Fly should not be frustrating, as it moves quickly. If too much discussion is taking place between turns, the child with autism may become anxious. Allow fidget breaks if needed, or speed up the play.

Has short attention span for non-preferred activities

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
If the child with autism is interested in animals, letters, or accumulating things that are alike, this may be a preferred game.

Needs sameness or consistent routines and/or has difficulty with transitions from one activity to another

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
The routine of play is the same with each turn, so this structure may be comforting.

Has difficulty understanding others' feelings, intentions, and the reasons for others' actions.

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Get the Fly does not require understanding others' feelings or intentions, as there is no strategy involved.