Beyond Screens: A Family-Centered, Unplugged, Gamified Intervention to Support Social Skills in Autistic Children

Gamification has recently been used to improve social skills among autistic children. However, barriers related to screen dependence and unequal access to devices and connectivity, particularly in low-resource settings, limit its suitability. We address these barriers by proposing a set of unplugged, gamified flashcards designed to support family engagement in promoting social skills among autistic children. The flashcards were designed through a multimodal study structured into four steps: (i) systematic literature review, (ii) expert brainstorming, (iii) prototype design, and (iv) interview with a family of autistic children. The study delivered a set of flashcards with a trail-shaped board to support families in activities that promote social skills in autistic children. We contribute a practical, low-cost tool and a replicable design path for mental health and gamification research and practice, focusing on everyday, family-led communication. Primary users are families with the autistic child, alongside therapists and teachers in clinical and school contexts.