What We Do

“Developing interests”

At first, Lok only liked playing with fruit and vegetable toys. Even when the therapist brought him to the slide, he would simply place the fruit toys on the slide and looked at them. He was totally not interested in other toys and playground equipment. The therapist then guided Lok to play with different types of toys and games. He has gradually developed interest in playground facilities and tended to play trampolines and slides during break time, such that rewards and activities used by the therapist during the training could be more diversified.

“New food challenge”

Ming looked eager to eat the sachima and seemed to like eating very much. In fact, he had been a picky eater before he joined the training, who had only favoured white breads and biscuits! Therefore, the therapist rewarded Ming to play with his beloved playground equipment for encouraging him to try different types of food, such as waffles, pork jerky, egg rolls, cakes, and so on. Besides, he has learnt to voice out his needs spontaneously by saying “I want to eat!”

“Sharing toys”

Tung finally invited another child to play with a game console together!

Behind this seemingly ordinary scene, Tung had gone through countless exercises. Tung refused to play or share toys with others previously. Therefore, our therapist guided him to share toys with other children through conducting ABA therapy. After several practices, Tung successfully took the first step and has been able to get along with others.

“I don’t want to wear a mask!”

‘Him, don’t take off your mask!’  ‘I don’t want to wear it!’

‘Do Do Do… Do Do Do…’  ‘Time’s up, I can go to play now!’

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Pandemic remains while wearing a mask has become our daily prevention. For children, masks are restraints, and they do not understand the reason behind.

Him was resistant to wearing a mask and often tore it off himself. His parents felt frustrated as they failed to dissuade him from tearing off his mask. Whenever Him arrived the centre, he would take off his mask immediately; if the therapist helped him put on his mask again, he would throw a tantrum.

The therapist then told Him, “If you put on your mask properly within a certain period of time, you will be allowed to play afterwards!” When the treatment had made progresss, the therapist gradually extended the duration of wearing the mask, and Him also learnt to be patient. When the timer went off, he would go to play with his favourite toy right away!

Wearing a mask for a long time is indeed not easy for children. You may practise with your children by providing some rewards, and we believe that they would get used to it sooner or later like Him.

【Chemistry without saying words】

Children who were newcomers typically played alone in our playground. But look at the photo, it was an unusual scene!

Yeung was coincidently on the slide with another child. They did not talk but just looked at each other, slid down, and laughed loudly together when they arrived on the ground. Although there was no verbal communication between them, this was their unique chemistry that other people could not ask. Sometimes, social interactions without saying a word could be a way to shorten the distance between each other!

Lok, Ming, Tung, Him and Yeung were invited to present their experience in receiving ABA services with Autism Partnership Foundation (operating in Hong Kong) (APF, HK). They are past beneficiaries of APF, HK.