15 Tips for Reading with Children on the Autism Spectrum
Mar 25, 2026 | aliciamarcano | News
At Y Whittlesea, we recognise World Autism Awareness Day as an important opportunity to celebrate neurodiversity, promote inclusion, and share practical ways to support children in their learning and development.
Reading with young children plays a powerful role in building language, communication and connection, and this is equally true for children on the autism spectrum.
When adults engage in interactive or “shared reading”, it supports children to:
– Understand and respond to language
– Express ideas and initiate communication
– Participate in meaningful ways (turning pages, pointing, using gestures or sounds)
Research shows that children with autism who regularly share books with a parent or caregiver often develop stronger language skills over time.
Here are 15 practical, strengths-based tips to make reading enjoyable, engaging and meaningful for every child.
1. Read with your child, not to them
Shift from passive listening to shared interaction. Encourage your child to participate in any way they can—pointing, vocalising, moving or exploring the book.
2. Be face-to-face while reading
Position yourself so your child can see your facial expressions and gestures. This helps build understanding and connection.
3. Let your child hold the book
Allowing children to turn pages or skip ahead gives them control and increases engagement.
4. Let your child move
Children don’t need to sit still to learn. Movement, fidgeting or changing positions can support attention and comfort.
5. Choose books based on interest
Follow your child’s passions—whether that’s music, animals, vehicles or space. Interest is a powerful motivator for learning.
6. Observe, Wait and Listen (OWL™)
Pause and give your child time to respond. Watch their cues and follow their lead to create back-and-forth interaction.
7. Talk about what interests your child
Focus on what captures their attention rather than finishing the story. Engagement matters more than completion.
8. Simplify the text
Use clear, simple language to match your child’s communication level. Short phrases can be more meaningful than complex sentences.
9. Let the pictures do the talking
Point to images as you speak to help connect words with meaning.
10. Use expression and sound
Bring stories to life with tone, facial expressions and sound effects—“vroom!”, “bang!”, “uh-oh!”
11. Keep reading time short
Start with brief, positive experiences. Over time, your child may naturally engage for longer.
12. Re-read favourite books
Repetition builds familiarity, confidence and understanding. It’s okay to read the same book again and again.
13. Follow your child’s lead
Let your child guide the experience—what page to look at, what to focus on, when to stop. This builds autonomy and enjoyment.
14. Create a comfortable reading environment
Choose a space where your child feels safe and relaxed—this could be a quiet corner, outdoors, or even while lying down.
15. Celebrate every interaction
Every sound, gesture, look or shared moment is meaningful. Celebrate small steps—they are big achievements.
A strengths-based approach to reading
Every child communicates, learns and experiences the world in their own way. By embracing a strengths-based approach, we can create reading experiences that are:
– Flexible
– Inclusive
– Responsive to each child’s needs
Reading together is not about doing it “perfectly”—it’s about connection, joy and shared moments.
References
http://Bring On the Books! 10 tips for Reading with Autistic Children (hanen.org)
- Boyle, S. A., McNaughton, D., & Chapin, S. E. (2019). Effects of shared reading on the early language and literacy skills of children with autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 34(4), 205-214. DOI: 10.1177/1088357619838276
- Mathée-Scott, J. & Ellis Weismer, S. (2022). Naturalistic parent–child reading frequency and language development in toddlers with and without autism. Autism & Developmental Language Impairments, 7, 1–13. DOI: 10.1177/23969415221136740
- Sussman, F. (2012). More Than Words: A Parent’s Guide to Building Interaction and Language Skills for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder or Social Communication Difficulties, 2nd ed. The Hanen Centre: Toronto, Ontario.
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