An Activity-Based Approach to Physical Education for Preschool Children with Disabilities

1996 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 230-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin E. Block ◽  
Timothy D. Davis
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Motor Development ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Children With Disabilities ◽  
Developmentally Appropriate ◽  
Time On Task ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Goals And Objectives

Traditional motor development programs for preschool children with disabilities usually utilize a behavior-analytic approach in which children are given specific training and instruction on identified IEP objectives. While this approach has its merits in terms of time-on-task and focus on critical IEP objectives, it is not consistent with current developmentally appropriate philosophies in early childhood education. One of the newer techniques suggested by early childhood educators as a “best practice” in educating young children is an activity-based or play-based approach. Children still have individually determined goals and objectives, but these goals and objectives are “embedded” in a variety of child-directed play activities. The teacher acts as a facilitator, encouraging the child to practice individual goals while exploring the environment. The purpose of this article is to introduce the concept of activity-based intervention and provide examples of how it can be implemented within a motor development/physical education context for preschool children with disabilities.

Contextual Factors Influencing the Sociability of Preschool Children with Disabilities in Integrated and Segregated Classrooms

1997 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 389-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Curry Sontag
Keyword(s):  
Preschool Children ◽  
Public School ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Children With Disabilities ◽  
Antisocial Behaviors ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Solitary Play ◽  
Integrated Classrooms ◽  
Educational Placements

This study compared the contextual classroom features of public school segregated classrooms and community-based integrated classrooms for preschool children with disabilities, examining the relations between classroom characteristics and child sociability. A total of 16 children were pair-matched and observed in their classrooms. Results showed that the contexts of the two classroom conditions were similar. Differences in child sociability were not found. Solitary play and antisocial behaviors were infrequently observed. The findings suggested a significant relationship between teacher verbal prompting and child sociability. Children were much more likely to talk to their peers when a verbal prompt was given. The study presented implications for the educational placements of preschool children.

Realabilities

2017 ◽  
pp. 264-303
Author(s):  
Nava R. Silton
Keyword(s):  
Preschool Children ◽  
Children With Disabilities ◽  
Comic Book ◽  
Physical Impairment ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Book Series ◽  
Adjective Checklist ◽  
Mainstream Classrooms ◽  
Tv Show ◽  
The Impact

Children with disabilities are two to three times more likely to be victimized by bullying than their typical peers (Carter & Spencer, 2006). Since half of all preschool children with disabilities are now in mainstream classrooms (Diamond & Hong, 2010), it's imperative to reduce bullying and to enhance sensitivity to peers with disabilities. Since children tend to exercise more effort when they have higher expectations of their peers (Rosenthal, 1989), it's critical to showcase the competencies of children with disabilities (Siperstein et al., 2007). The following research assesses the impact of Realabilities, an animated TV show and comic book series, which emphasizes the strengths of five characters with disabilities (Autism, ADHD, Visual, Hearing and Physical Impairment) who harness their strengths and innate creativity to save their school from bullies. This chapter will present findings from five, creative Realabilities interventions using Morgan's (1996) Shared Activities Questionnaire and Siperstein and Bak's (1977) Adjective Checklist and will highlight future directions.

Toys and Materials as Setting Events on the Social Interaction of Preschool Children

2001 ◽  
Vol 25 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 49-66
Author(s):  
Mark Carter ◽  
Catherine A. O’Gorman‐Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Preschool Children ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Children With Disabilities ◽  
Observational Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Setting Events ◽  
Research Designs ◽  
Apply Research

This review examined the effects of toys and materials as setting events on social interactions of preschool children. A total of 11 studies were examined and the findings suggested an association with particular types of toys and materials and increases in social interaction. There are, however, several methodological weaknesses that need to be addressed in future studies. In particular, future studies need to make more extensive use of experimental rather than observational research designs, provide functional descriptions of extant social skills of participants, apply research designs that allow idiosyncratic responses to intervention to be examined and consider the effects of manipulation of effects of toys and materials in relation to age. With regard to studies involving children with special needs, a number of features of existing research, including small group sizes, unusual ratios of children with disabilities compared to typically developing children and atypical play areas, limit conclusions that can be drawn from the present data. Future research will need to address these issues and examine more typical preschool settings in order to clarify the role of toys and materials in encouraging positive social interactions between young children with disabilities and their regular peers.

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