Autism Video Modelling to Teach Play Skills: Stacking Cups

Video modelling is a form of teaching which can be used to teach play, social and self help skills. It is a method of observational learning in which the student observes a video of a peer demonstrating a target behaviour. The student then mimics the desired behaviour. Video modelling is a successful intervention methodology for children with autism spectrum disorders.

Video modelling to teach skills to individuals with autism, is based on the concept of visual learning. It is predictable and easy to control, while eliminating the need for social interaction. Our videos use peer models to teach a range of concepts such as appropriate play skills, self help skills and social skills. By using a peer model, our videos are more effective than a traditional therapist, parent or teacher acting as the model. Our videos allow for immediate play back, encouraging the memorisation, imitation and generalisation of everyday skills.

Our videos are intended for use within the home and educational setting. While behavioural therapists have had great success utislising our videos in therapy sessions to teach desired skills, teachers and parents have also reported how effective they have been in teaching targeted behaviours.

During this video, Katie demonstrates how to play appropriately with a the stacking cups, a common early childhood toy. She unstacks the cups from one another and then turns them over individually, stacking them on top of each other to make a tower.

For this particular video, there are a number of ways it can be used to teach appropriate play skills. Here are some examples:
Seat your child in front of the video with similar play resources. Have the child copy the play sequence at the same time Katie is modelling the play behaviour. Provide hand over hand assistance if required.
Seat your child in front of the video with similar play resources. Watch Katie perform the first play step and pause the video. Have your child copy the play step, providing hand over hand assistance if required.
Watch the whole video first. Then have your child copy the sequence of steps with his/her resources.
Watch the video with no sound. Provide a verbal cue to your child before Katie performs a step. For example, say to your child “Do that” and point to the screen.

Do you have any other suggestions on how our videos can be used? Be sure to comment on our video below!