Solitary symbolic play, object substitution and peer role play skills at age 3 predict different aspects of age 7 structural language abilities in a matched sample of autistic and non-autistic children

Backgrounds and aims Early symbolic play abilities are closely related to long-term language development for both autistic and non-autistic children, but few studies have explored these relations for different dimensions of pretence and of language. The current study explores carer-reported measures of solitary symbolic play, object substitution and peer role play abilities at age 3, and their respective relations with parent-reported semantics, syntax and narrative abilities at age 7 for both autistic and non-autistic children. Methods We conducted secondary data analyses exploring links between different aspects of pretence and of language on the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children population cohort. We identified 92 autistic children and used propensity score matching to match them with 92 non-autistic children based on demographic and developmental information such as non-verbal IQ and socioeconomic status. We explored concurrent and longitudinal relations using correlation and regression models. Results: Both correlational and hierarchical regression analyses confirmed the significant effects of age 3 symbolic play abilities in facilitating age 7 semantics, syntax and narrative abilities for autistic children. We found that object substitution held most prominent influence, followed by peer role play and solitary symbolic play. In contrast, for non-autistic children, none of the age 3 symbolic play abilities were significant predictors, whereas socioeconomic status at birth and age 3 language abilities held significant influences on their age 7 semantics, syntax and narrative abilities. Conclusion: We discuss the implications of our findings for play interventions targeting language outcomes.

Symbolic Play among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review

Symbolic play is considered an early indicator in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and its assessment. The objective of this study was to analyze the difficulties in symbolic play experienced by children with ASD and to determine the existence of differences in symbolic play among children with ASD, children with other neurodevelopmental disorders and children with typical development. A scoping review was carried out in the Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, ERIC, and PsycInfo databases, following the extension for scoping reviews of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The number of papers included in the review was 22. The results confirm that children with ASD have greater difficulties with symbolic play than children with other neurodevelopmental disorders and children with typical development, even when controlling for their verbal age. Difficulties are greater in situations of free or spontaneous play. Results evidenced that the absence or deficiency in the symbolic play can serve as an early indicator of ASD between the first and second year of life, the developmental moment in which this type of play begins.

Developing Pretend Play in Autistic Children Using the Playboxes Joint Play Approach as Part of Ongoing Practice

A repeated measures single subject design was used to examine the effectiveness of a joint play approach embedded in professional practice, in supporting pretend play for autistic children. Seven autistic children, aged 5–8 years, with a placement within a specialist educational provision, and who demonstrated restricted play, participated in weekly sessions using the Playboxes approach over a period of 3 months. Pre- and post-approach pretend play abilities were assessed using the Symbolic Play Test and the Test of Pretend Play. Every child gained increased age-equivalent scores on the Test of Pretend Play, ranging from + 8 to + 30 months. Pretend Play abilities can support developmental outcomes and incorporation of this approach into regular practice could be of value for autistic children.

Play-Based Bereavement Centers for Children and Families

This chapter outlines the structure and therapeutic foundation for a play-based bereavement center geared toward children and families experiencing grief. Organizational structure and duties are discussed along with information regarding developing a playful facility including art/expressive writing, music, drama, symbolic play, and emotional regulation and release therapeutic opportunities. The author focuses on the supervision and training of community volunteers and counselors-in-training to increase positive outcomes and drive sustainability.

Experiencing Folk Music in Children

Through everyday exposure to language and music, individuals within a nation become sensitive to the melodic and rhythmical structure of their folk musical culture. It represents improvisational abilities of individuals and groups as well. Despite all changes, it indisputably maintains all characteristic of music parameters as inheritance of past ages. Due to its social role, it appears throughout everyones life and it also represents an important part of childrens life. In the study that was carried out with two groups of children between six and nine years of age, we were interested in determining how do children experience music making with elements of folk music and how it is possible to create the circumstances which can provide the spontaneity of folk music within the structured environment (like primary school). The research was designed as a phenomenological case study. This method allowed us to gather data which provided a deeper insight into the ways in which participants are able to play using elements of folk music and the way they feel while using such material. The results show that, contrary to the basic fact of spontaneity in folk music, 6 and 7 year old participants were not able to use music parameters to play with and had yet to learn how does the symbolic play on the basis of communication in musical language work out. The most natural way to bridge the gap between learning songs and experiencing individual musical expression in a manner of folk music in children seems to be a creative work with lyrics in Slovene language. We also found that children develop social competences of a great value, when they are involved in a symbolic play with folk music elements in the improvisational mode. Key words: folk music; improvisation; music language; music making