Early Start Denver Model is promising intervention model for children with autism. It is a form of play therapy combined with a modified version of Applied Behavior Analysis. The study "Randomized, Controlled Trial of an Intervention for Toddlers With Autism: The Early Start Denver Model" suggests that only 15 hours a week of ESDM therapy are needed as compared to other programs that need as much as 40 hours a week. Parents can learn the method in less than 6 hours and use it whenever necessary.
In this program, children experience rewarding coordinated social interactions. According to the ESDM, the program will "include teaching imitation, developing awareness of social interactions and reciprocity, teaching the power of communication, teaching a symbolic communication system, teaching more flexible, conventional and creative play with toys, and making the social world as understandable as the world of objects." The program is designed for children as young as 12 months old and focuses on teaching parents techniques to interact with their infants who are at risk for autism.
There are many different programs based on the principles of Applied Behavioral Analysis. Keep in mind, however, that while programs may be similar in goals, they can vary widely in method. According to the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, "Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the application of the principles of learning and motivation from Behavior Analysis, and the procedures and technology derived from those principles, to the solution of problems of social significance." In ABA, therapists study your child's manner and style of interaction, then develop a therapy strategy that directly applies to the behavior that needs to be changed, such as self-injurious behavior. They design a measurable program to see if the therapy is working so that they can modify it along they way if it is not. With more than 30 years of research and data to support this model, ABA is a proven autism intervention strategy. It is also used for children with many other disabilities.
Floortime is another form of play therapy that is highly regarded for young children. Designed by Dr. Stanley Greenspan, the Floortime model consists mainly of approaching the child at his level, seeking out his interests and using them, in the form of play, to draw the child into interactions that will teach him important concepts like appropriate eye contact and how to have a reciprocal conversation. Dr. Greenspan believed that there are six developmental milestones that children "must master for healthy emotional and intellectual growth." Floortime attempts to help children with "Biological Challenges"--sensory disorders--master the six milestones. It is recommended that parents receive training from a therapist on how to direct play in the most beneficial way and also how to pursue measurable results.