Sorting by time is an important skill for children with autism. In this article, we’ll show you how to teach them!
For many people on the spectrum, understanding the concept of time and consequently sorting by time is extremely difficult. They often struggle to understand that things happen at different times of the day. This can cause problems when trying to learn new skills, such as using a calendar. We’ll show you how to help them sort by time.
Start by teaching sorting by size.
To start, let’s talk about sorting by size. If you’re teaching a child who has autism, you might find it helpful to use a visual aid. You can make one yourself by drawing a picture of each object on a piece of paper. Then cut out each shape and place them in order on a table.
Then move on to sorting by color.
Next, you need to sort by color. This will help your child learn colors and numbers at the same time. Start by asking your child what color something is. Then ask him to point to the color he thinks it is. Repeat this process until you’ve sorted everything into groups based on color.
Finally, teach them to sort by shape.
Once you’ve taught your child to sort by color, move on to sorting by shape. Ask your child to pick up each object and place it next to its corresponding shape. You can also use objects that have multiple shapes, such as a cube.
Start with a Simple Task.
If you’re teaching your child to sort by time, start with something simple. For instance, ask him to put his toys into two piles—one pile for toys he plays with now, and one pile for toys he played with yesterday. Then, ask him, using flashcards, to sort day and night activities. Continue doing this until he’s able to sort by morning, daytime, and night activities.
Give Them Lots of Practice.
Once your child has mastered sorting by the time of day, move on to more complex tasks. Ask him to sort by season, by holiday, by age, and so on. He might need some help at first, but as he gets better at it, he should be able to do these sorts without any assistance.
