About.com Rating

Updated June 09, 2015.

The Bottom Line

These are solid, usable tools for teaching individuals with autism to handle critical daily activities. As videos, they are likely to engage learners; repetition and clear imagery are likely to enhance learning. Drawbacks include oversimplification of some tasks, and I question the products' ability to support generalization of skills.



Pros

• Professional-quality videos.
• Solid, step-by-step presentations.

• Useful content for any individual with challenges.
• Repetition of each segment will aid in learning.
• Reasonably priced at $30/DVD.

Cons

• In some cases, content is over-simplified.
• May be tough to generalize from step by step instructions.
• Some claims may be overstated.

Description

• Six DVD/videos offer step-by-step models for daily routines and activities.
• Topics covered include hygiene, chores, and socialization.
• Each product contains 5-6 individual skill sets.

Guide Review - Child First Videos

Video has been shown to be an effective teaching tool for people with autism, since autistic people are often extremely visual learners and very good at memorization. Child First LLC has developed a set of six DVD/Videos which present basic life skills step by step. Videoteped and produced professionally, they use simple backgrounds, unlabelled products, and repetition to provide clear models.

The products do have a few drawbacks. I reviewed the hygiene video, and found that the directions for toothbrushing and hand washing, while clear and easy to follow, were just too simple to be fully effective.

For example, toothbrushing includes clear instructions on how to brush the outsides of the teeth, but the model never opens her mouth to brush her molars -- an important skill that can be especially tough for kids with sensory issues. Of course, caregivers can supplement the content of the video with their own personalized instruction, but I'd prefer to see a more realistic portrayal of the skill up front.

I'm also somewhat skeptical about the product's claim that it's a good tool for generalizing skills. In fact, because the presentations are so very simplified, I'm not sure how well a learner will be able to translate imitation of the video to real life. For example, a little girl brushes her hair -- and there are no tangles! How will a user manage when tangles lead to tears?