PRT Using Balls: Easy and Fun Activities for Autistic Kids

PRT Using Balls: Simple and Fun Activities For Autistic Kids You Can Do at Home

Hi there! Are you looking for an easy and effective way to try Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) activities for autistic kids at home with your child? Whether you want to:

• Boost their responses
• Help improve social skills
• Or give their confidence a little nudge during social interactions

You have come to the right place. 😊

If you are just starting your journey with PRT or wondering if the activities for autistic kids is the right fit for your child, I have written another blog post explaining the basics of PRT and how you can start using it at home. You can check it out here: Pivotal Response Treatment at Home.

You can also read an extensive book on PRT and the research surrounding it here, “Pivotal Response Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorders” – by DR Robert.

What is Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT)?

PRT is a therapy designed to help create activities for autistic kids to learn communication, social, and play skills through fun, everyday activities for autistic kids especially.

It is different from more rigid therapies because it uses what the child is naturally interested in as the starting point for learning and introducing the activities for autistic kids.

Think of it like this: instead of teaching your child by sitting them down at a desk and drilling lessons, PRT turns playtime activities for autistic kids into a learning session.

If your child loves cars, for example, you would use those cars to encourage them to talk, take turns, or follow instructions.

PRT focuses activities for autistic kids in pivotal areas of development, like motivation, social engagement, and self management. For example, if a child becomes more motivated to communicate, they will naturally start using more words in other situations too.

Why is PRT Linked to Autism?

Children with autism often face challenges in areas like communication, social skills, and flexibility in routines. These difficulties can lead to frustration for both the child and their caregivers.

PRT is specifically designed to address these challenges by introducing activities for autistic kids though play.

It is supported by decades of research showing that it helps to introduce PRT activities for autistic kids:

• Improve Communication: Many kids who start with limited speech or nonverbal communication begin to use words more naturally with PRT.
• Build Social Connections: By practicing skills like turn taking or asking for help, children become more comfortable interacting with others.
• Reduce Tantrums: Teaching kids how to express their needs verbally helps reduce frustration-driven behaviors.

One of the reasons I love PRT’s activities for autistic kids – is that it feels approachable for parents like me.

Why I Chose PRT Activities for Autistic Kids for Us

My child is autistic, and as a parent, I have always wanted to do everything I can to help them navigate the world with confidence. For the past two years, we have been attending therapy sessions, including speech, behavioral, and PRT.

PRT, in particular, has been a game changer because it is playful, simple, and enjoyable. My child actually loves it because it feels like playtime instead of therapy!

And because I get to be part of the sessions, I have learned so much about how to implement it at home.

We started PRT because my child struggled with speech and often got frustrated when they could not express themselves.

At first, I was not sure if it would work. But as I learned how to weave PRT activities for autistic kids into our playtime, I started seeing changes.

For example, during play with their favorite toy train, I would hold the train and encourage them to say “train” or “give train” before I handed it over. At first, I prompted them a lot, but soon they started asking for the train on their own!

One thing I love about PRT activities for autistic kids is that it does not feel like “therapy” to my child.

To them, it is just playing.

To me, it is a chance to help them grow in a way that feels natural and joyful.

Is PRT Right for Your Child?

PRT can be a great fit as activities for autistic kids, especially those who:

• Are motivated by play or rewards.
• Struggle with communication but show interest in interacting.
• Benefit from routines but need flexibility introduced gently.

That said, every autistic child is different. What works for one might not work for another.

If you are curious about PRT, consider speaking to a therapist who specializes in it or trying a few activities for autistic kids at home to see how your child responds.

Which Children Benefit Most from PRT?

Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) is a flexible and has a lot of activities for autistic kids – mainly focused on therapy that can benefit a wide range of children, particularly those with ASD.

However, certain traits or developmental stages makes activities for autistic kids especially well suited.

1. Children with Limited Verbal Skills

PRT is part of particularly effective activities for autistic kids who struggle to communicate verbally. By incorporating natural play and routines, it encourages children to use language in a way that feels natural and rewarding.

For example, if a child wants a toy, they are prompted to verbalize their request rather than relying on gestures or grunts.

Ideal Candidates:

• Children who primarily use nonverbal communication.
• Children who can vocalize sounds but struggle with forming words.
• Those who use single words and are ready to build vocabulary.

2. Children with Social Interaction Challenges

Many activities for autistic kids do not help with the struggle to face difficulties engaging with others or understanding social cues. PRT’s emphasis on turn taking, sharing, and requesting can help organise activities for autistic kids to practice these skills in a low pressure, fun environment.

Ideal Candidates:

• Children who avoid or seem uninterested in social play.
• Those who find it hard to sustain interactions with peers or adults.

3. Children Motivated by Play and Rewards

PRT works best with children who respond well to positive reinforcement. It uses activities for autistic kids or items the child already loves – like toys, games, or snacks – as motivation to practice communication and social skills.

Ideal Candidates:

• Children who enjoy interactive games or playing with favorite objects.
• Kids who are motivated by immediate rewards, such as praise or access to a preferred item.

4. Children Struggling with Behavior Challenges

PRT can help address tantrums or disruptive behaviors caused by communication frustrations. By teaching children to express their needs effectively, PRT reduces the triggers for such behaviors.

Ideal Candidates:

• Children who frequently get frustrated when they can not communicate their needs.
• Those who have difficulty transitioning between activities for autistic kids or dealing with change.

5. Children Who Are Ready for Early Intervention

PRT has been shown to be highly effective in early intervention settings, especially for younger children who are still developing foundational communication and social skills.

Ideal Candidates:

• Toddlers and preschoolers newly diagnosed with autism.
• Children who are beginning to show interest in interacting with others.

6. Children with Families Ready to Participate

PRT’s success is heavily influenced by caregiver involvement.

Families who are willing to practice PRT techniques at home will see the most progress.

The therapy is easy to learn and can be incorporated into daily routines, making it ideal for parents and caregivers who want to take an active role.

Ideal Candidates:

• Children whose families are motivated to learn and apply therapy techniques at home.
• Families who have time to practice PRT regularly.

PRT is an excellent choice for children who are ready to take small, meaningful steps toward better communication and social interaction.

If your child loves to play, has specific interests, or responds well to encouragement and rewards, they are likely to thrive with PRT.

PRT with Balls: Why It Works

One of the easiest ways to practice PRT is by using a ball – whether it is a soccer ball, yoga ball, beach ball, or tennis ball. The key is to use something your child already enjoys playing with.

This method is great for improving:

• Eye contact: Helping your child focus on interactions
• Following instructions: Encouraging clear communication
• Turn-taking: Building social interaction skills

Step-by-Step: Playing and Learning with Balls

1. Start with Eye Contact
   • Hold the ball near your face, close to your eyes.
   • Your goal is to gently encourage your child to shift their gaze between the ball and your face.
   • Do not worry if eye contact does not happen right away. For some autistic children, this takes time.
2. Give Simple Instructions
   • Use clear, short phrases based on your child’s language level. For example:
     • “Pick up the ball.”
     • “Throw the ball to me.”
     • “Bounce the ball.”
   • When they follow the instruction, immediately reward them with praise and the chance to keep playing.
3. Prompt Communication
   • Hold the ball and wait for your child to indicate they want it.
   • If they do not verbalize, gently prompt them: “Say, ‘Throw ball.’”
   • Wait for them to say it
   • Repeat their words back to them with enthusiasm: “Throw ball! Good job asking for what you want!”
4. Reinforce Success
   • Celebrate their efforts every time they use words to communicate.
   • Keep the atmosphere fun and encouraging, even if they make mistakes.

Eye Contact

While it is best to try to establish eye contact with your child whenever there is any direct verbal contact between you two. Everyone knows that it may not be possible to get eye contact fully or completely or multiple times from a child with Autism.

Hopefully, once you have been doing PRT for a while. Your child will begin to increase their duration and amount of times they hold eye contact with you.

In the beginning you might not even get any eye contact at all.

Eventually the child will look from the object to you and then back to the object and vice versa.

Although you might want to give this some time, because some autistic children, like my own – find eye contact as a direct confrontation and that makes them uncomfortable.

Give your kid some time and eventually they will see, in their own time, that eye contact is not an act of aggression. Rather it is an act of communication and acknowledgement of the other person.

Be patient.

Eye contact is one of the hardest things to do for anyone with Autism – I can personally attest to this!

Give clear one step or two step instructions.

The point is for you to give clear instructions of the activities for autistic kids and let them know what it is you expect them to do.

Once you have given the instruction and your child follows your instructions, you can play together.

You have the ball.

When you have the ball you can hold the ball up next to your head and pause.

If your child shows any kind of interest in wanting the ball, tell them clearly to repeat the simple sentence after you.

Depending on the age and communicative abilities of your child you can use simple two words, three words, four words etc.

Whatever level it is that your child is working at, is the level and difficulty of words you should be using with them.

When we started with my child we would place the ball near them and tell them to:

1. Pick up the Ball, and
2. Throw the ball to me

or

1. Put the ball next to your foot, and
2. Kick the ball to me

or

1. Sit down on the floor, and
2. Bounce the ball towards me

Once the ball is in your hand, or by your foot or if you are sitting on the floor, hold the ball up.

Get your child’s attention and have them look your way.

Pause.

Wait.

Is your child showing interest in wanting you to throw/kick/roll/bounce the ball back to them?

If so, perfect.

Hold the attention of your child.

In the beginning it might be easier to ask your child to say “throw ball”, or “roll ball” etc.

It is important for you to not give your child the ball or anything similar of the sort until they explicitly ask for it.

Make them ask you for what they want.

You can of course also prompt your child in asking them what they want.

Hand signals, grunts or body movements do not count.

We need to get activities for autistic kids to help them improve on their communication skills.

Especially because Autistic children struggle to show their emotions/communicate with others around them.

Make it clear to them that they do not get their ball unless they ask for it using their words.

Now the most important part of this!

Repeat what your child says!

This really sets the sentence and questioning into the brain of our children.

The whole point is to make them understand that communication is key in life.

Repetition is key.

The point is to get them to memorize.

So it goes a little bit like this.

Adult holding up object while having the attention of the child: Say “Throw Ball”.

Child, “Throw Ball”

Immediately throw the ball to the child and make sure they have that ‘reward’

(softly, obviously)

Adult, “Throw Ball”, “Woow, Good Job for asking for what you want”

Alternatively

Adult: Say “Kick Ball”

Child: “Kick Ball”

Immediately softly kick the ball to them!

Adult: “Kick Ball”, “Ahh Well done for asking mummy to kick the ball”.

The more you do PRT with your child and the more they get used to speaking and asking for things, their language will also improve.

Eventually, these sentences will become longer.

For Example

• “Throw the ball please” or
• “Can you throw the ball?”, to lastly,
• “Can you throw the ball to me please”.

Keep Rewards in Mind

Do not focus on accent or pronunciations.

Unless you know they are more than capable of speaking in decent sentences but they choose not to.

Some Autistic children are smart enough to know that some kind of minimum will still get them the results.

So if you know your child can say “Bounce the ball”, never accept them to just say “Ball”.

However,

As soon as your child asks for something, immediately give it to them.

Praise them for their efforts and let them know that they are doing a good job.

When they ask for something, and it is given to them immediately, they understand that by speaking up about what they want and what they would like, they will be rewarded. Whereas staying silent will get them nothing.

My Personal Experience

When I first started doing PRT at home, my child would rarely make eye contact or use words during play. But over time, using simple activities for autistic kids like this, I noticed a big improvement.

At first, they would just say, “Ball!” when they wanted it. Then, after some practice, it became, “Throw ball!” Now, they can say full sentences like, “Can you throw the ball to me, please?”

It has been incredible to watch their communication skills grow through such simple and playful activities for autistic kids.

Tips for Success

• Be Patient: Every child progresses at their own pace. Celebrate the small wins.
• Stay Consistent: Practice a little every day, even if it is just for 10–15 minutes.
• Adapt to Your Child: Use words and actions that match their current skill level.

Why This Matters

PRT is not just about learning to play with a ball – it is about helping your child learn to express themselves, connect with others, and build confidence in their abilities.

And the best part?

It is something you can easily do at home, even if you are new to therapy techniques.

So grab a ball, get down on the floor, and start playing with your child.

You will not only help them learn new skills but also create beautiful, bonding moments together. 💛

Let me know if you have tried PRT with your child or if you have any questions – I would love to hear about your experience!