TEACCH Tip#9 – Increasing Engagement Using Interests
Many individuals with autism have favorite topics, characters, toys, or activities that bring them joy and comfort. These interests can also be powerful tools for increasing participation in everyday tasks, learning activities, and responsibilities.
By incorporating an individual’s interests into less-preferred activities, you can make those activities more engaging, motivating, and enjoyable.
Ways to Incorporate Interests
- Use favorite characters or themes during chores, schoolwork, or daily routines.
- Turn tasks into imaginative play. For example, a child who loves princesses can pretend to be Cinderella while sweeping the floor.
- Add favorite interests to learning activities, such as creating math problems featuring beloved characters.
- Incorporate interests into organization or cleanup tasks. For example, a child who loves trains can collect toy trains placed throughout the house while tidying up.
- Use favorite topics as themes for reading, writing, or communication activities.
Helpful Hints:
- Start by incorporating interests into activities that are especially challenging or less motivating.
- If the interest becomes distracting, embed it more directly into the activity itself. For example, write a reading passage about a favorite character rather than simply adding a sticker to the page.
- Focus on making the activity enjoyable, not just rewarding completion. The goal is to increase engagement while the task is happening.
- Interests can still be used as rewards after completing an activity when appropriate.
- Be creative and flexible—small changes can make a big difference in motivation and participation.