Play Therapy

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This review looked at group programs that teach emotion regulation skills to autistic children (ages 7-18). These programs involve parents and teachers working together. The research found these group programs can help autistic children better manage emotions and social situations. Most programs used talk therapy approaches, while some included play, mindfulness, or yoga. Programs worked best when parents and teachers learned skills too, and children practiced at home. Group programs may be more affordable and accessible than one-on-one therapy.

Summary by AutismInsights from published abstract.

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Researchers studied 72 children with autism aged 3-8 years to see if adding creative play activities to regular therapy helped. Half the children received regular therapy only, while the other half also participated in creative play sessions for 12 weeks. Children who had the creative play activities showed better social skills, communication, thinking abilities, and fine motor skills compared to those who only had regular therapy.

Summary by AutismInsights from published abstract.

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Researchers studied how well 36 autistic preschoolers (around 5 years old) played in a special sensory room. They found that children's playfulness was linked to family factors - children played more when mums worked, but played less when dads had higher education or families had higher income. This early research helps us understand what might affect how autistic children play in therapy settings.

Summary by AutismInsights from published abstract.

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This study asked 19 autistic children what play means to them, rather than relying on adult assumptions. The children said play is about having fun, connecting with others (both alone and with friends), and doing activities that matter to them. They wanted control over their play choices. This challenges old ideas that autistic children don't play 'properly' and shows we need to listen to autistic children themselves about what good play looks like.

Summary by AutismInsights from published abstract.

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Researchers watched 78 autistic boys playing with their mums and dads, comparing playtime with toys versus without toys. They found that both parents and children had more positive interactions when playing without toys. The quality of play was equally good with both mums and dads. This suggests that toy-free play might be better for building positive connections with autistic children.

Summary by AutismInsights from published abstract.

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Researchers studied how 120 autistic and non-autistic children play, focusing on whether they prefer 'boy toys' or 'girl toys' and activities. They found that autistic boys were more likely to play with toys and activities typically preferred by girls, compared to non-autistic boys. Autistic girls played similarly to non-autistic girls. The study suggests autistic children, especially boys, may feel freer to play with whatever interests them, regardless of whether society considers it 'typical' for their gender.

Summary by AutismInsights from published abstract.

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This study looked at how well occupational therapy research includes children from different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Researchers found that many studies don't report who participated, especially in areas like daily living skills and play. School-based studies were better at including diverse participants than clinic-based studies. This lack of diversity in research means we don't know if treatments work equally well for all children.

Summary by AutismInsights from published abstract.

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This study looked at a play therapy program for 38 children with intellectual disabilities and autism in special schools. Children participated in weekly 1-hour play sessions with occupational therapists for 7 months. After the program, children showed improvements in their pretend play, language skills, social skills, and school performance. The results suggest that helping children develop better play skills can lead to improvements in other important areas of development.

Summary by AutismInsights from published abstract.

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This study looked at how well autistic children can come up with ideas about how to use objects (called 'ideational praxis') and how this affects their play. Researchers compared 45 autistic children with 45 typically developing children aged 4-7 years. They found that autistic children had more difficulty both thinking of creative ways to use objects and with different aspects of play. The study suggests that helping autistic children develop better ideas about how to use objects might improve their play skills.

Summary by AutismInsights from published abstract.

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This small study looked at how 10 children with autism play with their pets at home. Researchers watched videos and talked to parents, finding that playing with pets might help children develop responsibility and social skills, especially when interacting with animals. The study suggests pets could be beneficial, but more research is needed to understand the full picture.

Summary by AutismInsights from published abstract.

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Researchers watched how 2-year-olds play, comparing children who have siblings with autism, children born very early, and typical children. They found that children with autism or development delays played less with pretend/symbolic games. For children with autistic siblings, how much they played this way predicted autism traits later. This wasn't true for premature children, suggesting different paths to autism development.

Summary by AutismInsights from published abstract.

Plain-English summary

This study looked at how autistic and non-autistic children play with toys typically seen as 'boy toys' or 'girl toys' at different ages. Autistic girls played similarly to non-autistic girls, showing more interest in feminine toys as they grew older. However, autistic boys were less likely to play with masculine toys compared to other boys, and this difference became clear around 3.5 years old. The findings suggest autistic boys may have different play preferences that don't follow typical gender patterns.

Summary by AutismInsights from published abstract.