Flash Games for an ADHD Low Function Autistic Boy

December 9, 2007 3:11 AM

Recommend Flash (or otherwise web-based games) suitable for an 8 year old autistic (and ADHD and developmentally delayed) boy? Needs to run on public library computers with 'net access.

8 yo autistic boy with very (very) low function and severe hyperactivity (and lots of OCD-like behaviour) has supervised time and some of that time (in 2-3 hour chunks) are spent at a public library (Vancouver, BC).

The boy shows a strong affinity to computers and has a functional understanding of how the browser works. However, he fails to grasp the intention of most games and randomly pushes buttons until he finds buttons that produce some kind of stimuli on the screen and then keeps pressing the button.

Even if it's not "suitable" for this child, are there repositories of interface-simple flash games?

Anybody's favourite flash games for their elderly coworkers/relatives?

posted by porpoise to Computers & Internet (9 answers total)

What about Webkinz? My whole family, including grandparents in their 80s love their Webkinz.
Some of the games are quite simple, and activities like moving furniture around or dressing and feeding the animals are really simple and provide immediate response. The only issue I could see is that you have to earn money to buy things for your pet, but a clever adult could do those things in advance so that when the boy plays he can pick out food, clothes and furniture to his heart's content. The bonus is that he actually gets a physical version of his virtual pet to play with or cuddle when he's not at the computer.

There is also addictinggames.com, which has some games that are ok, but some are not appropriate for kids. Also check pbs.org for games based on their kids shows. Even something simple like online coloring pages would probably entertain him,.

Good luck!
posted by Biblio at 8:31 AM on December 9, 2007

Best answer: Maybe Orisinal.com? Most of the games involve simply moving around the mouse, or maybe one or two clicks. The interface is simple enough he'll at least get some feedback. ::shrug::

It's hard to know what he'll catch on to, I imagine it'll take a lot of trial and error.
posted by mecenday at 8:39 AM on December 9, 2007

My son likes the games on pbskids.org. Some are more simple than others.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:51 AM on December 9, 2007

Chat Noir? Fence the kitty in by clicking on the dots.

And seconding Orisinal.
posted by agenais at 10:33 AM on December 9, 2007

Best answer: There are a lot of educational games here, and a bunch more more for younger kids (designed for preschool, but they might be good for your guy), here.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 11:37 AM on December 9, 2007

oops, sorry- the second link above, to the preschool games, should go here.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 11:38 AM on December 9, 2007

Response by poster: Thanks guys!

and pseudostrabismus - I just realized that I spent the last half hour playing the monster match game from your first link! =)
posted by porpoise at 8:02 PM on December 10, 2007

porpoise, that's my favourite game on there, too! so just so you know, a version of that game will always be there, changing skins for the seasons- usually it's different kinds of flowers instead of monster heads.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 12:23 AM on December 14, 2007

Response by poster: Unfortunately the little guy in question didn't take to any of the games presented. Next up in line are the pbskids.org flash games... Not enough stimuli, I guess. Shit, it's fucking pissing me off trying to figure out what's a positive stimuli and what's something that he's parroting (and why he chooses to parrot someone's behaviour).

pseudostrabismus - my mum got addicted to that game... =)
posted by porpoise at 11:51 PM on December 16, 2007