Play Behaviors of Young Children with Autism

Autism has been shown to be associated with deficits in play behavior. The play behaviors of children with autism indicate that they tend to have severe deficits in play, both with toys and with regard to social behaviors. A consistent finding in the literature has been that both symbolic play and symbolic language are areas in which children with autism show specific impairments. Interventions to promote the play behaviors of these children have involved the use of either nonhandicapped or disabled peers, the use of specific instructions or verbal and physical prompts, highly structured one-to-one interactions involving adults and peers, or manipulation of the setting. Although different intervention techniques have been successful in promoting play behaviors, there is some concern about lasting effects after the intervention.