February 10, 2026

Top 7 Play & Communication Activities for Toddlers with Autism

Play is more than fun — it’s how young children learn! Here are 7 practical, engaging activities that families in Lehi, Highland, and Alpine can do at home to support communication, play skills, and engagement for toddlers with autism (ages 18 months-6 years).

1) Peek-a-Boo with Objects Use small toys or cups for peek-a-boo. This builds anticipation, attention, and social engagement with you.

2) Musical Movement Play Play a simple song and encourage your child to move — clapping, dancing, or swaying together boosts communication and shared joy.

3) Play-Based Imitation Game Copy your child’s movements or sounds, then wait for them to copy yours. This naturally improves imitation — a core learning skill.

4) Sensory Bin Exploration Create a bin with safe textures (rice, pom-poms, fabric). Encourage your child to explore and describe what they feel — rich learning happens here!

5) Animal Sound Play Make animal sounds and ask your child to imitate or guess the animal. This supports communication and fun vocabulary building.

6) Block Stacking Together Build towers together! Taking turns stacking blocks teaches patience, cooperation, and problem solving.

7) Storytime with Props Read a short book using props (puppets, stuffed animals). Ask simple questions like “Where’s the red ball?” to encourage interaction.

Conclusion These activities are simple, joyful ways to build core skills during everyday moments. Want more? We’d love to partner with your family to create an individualized play plan that fits your child’s interests!