(Autism and computer games) When my own child spends waaayyyy too much time on computer games. Tony Attwood (Autism extreme-expert) says this helpful

This was so helpful that I just had to share it with you… Why our autistic kids and teens are so addicted to playing computer games?

Tony Attwood (basically the go-to guru in Australia on Autism) said:

This is what our kids get out of computer game time:

• Get a temporary escape - to get away from the world and it stresses.
• Create a sense of connection with other people who think like they do (which doesn’t always happen - in the real world)
• Computer games give instant gratification - because there are always a series of goals and you achieve them and you get told you are a champion for achieving them.
• There’s a good sense of challenge that appeals to kids with Autism
• Often kids to feel unpopular at school can feel a sense of popularity with other gamers
• There’s usually hardly any social chit-chat or off topic social cues to read. It simplifies interacting with others
• In some types of computer games, kids can build their own avatar, which is a pretend person who they can be, like a superhero or something like that.



Why is this so important for me as a parent (Michael writing this)?

It’s because we run Minecraft social skills programs – so our kids are each week learning social skills while we together play Minecraft on our home computers. My own son is part of that group so I see him doing it each week

And what Tony Attwood is saying here explains why my son loves that program so much.

Sometimes as a parent I worry about how much time my own kids spend playing computer games, but my son comes to our Minecraft social skills program each week and he has learnt so much from it.

Basically my son is learning how to express his own opinions and how to have conversations.

By the way, 6 of our staff have their own kids learning social skills in the Minecraft Social Skill program. Because unlike most other therapies out there, our kids always desperate to get started in their Minecraft mini-groups each week.

So, let’s not be overly worried when our kids are getting super absorbed in computer games. Sure, we would rather see them kick a ball outside or something. However, Tony Attwood’s explanation makes sense about why they love games.

Also if you’d like to know more about the Minecraft Social Skills groups for kids with Autism, everything is here: https://www.amazingskills.com.au/minecraft

Keep being an amazing parent,

Michael Clark from Amazing Skills

0481614517