Toy-Play Behavior and Use of Body by Autistic and Normal Children as Reported by Mothers

Abstract

A comparison of the toy play behavior and use of body of 30 autistic and 30 normal children between the ages of 2 and 7 was made by use of a maternal questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed to yield a descriptive profile of age-appropriate play behavior and ritualistic behavior generally found to be characteristic of the autistic child. Exact probability tests on each of the 47 items of the questionnaire indicated significant differences ( p < .05) between groups, the normal Ss demonstrating more age-appropriate play behavior and the autistic more ritualistic behavior. Validity of the questionnaire was examined by comparing items from the questionnaire to similarly defined items in a structured observation study of autistic, normal, and retarded children. 14 autistic Ss were available for both studies. Consistency in toy-play behavior of autistic children was indicated as measured by the two techniques. Differences in toy-play behavior of normal and autistic samples were definitely indicated; a questionnaire technique gave high agreement with observation, providing a useful and efficient method for measuring toy-play behavior; further refinement of the questionnaire seems appropriate.

Social Development in Autism

“…For example, a toy truck may interest the child only to the extent that parts of it may be spun or whirled. In comparison to children with mental retardation, comparatively less symbolic play is observed among children with autism (DeMyer, Mann, Tilton, & Loew, 1967;Wing, Gould, Yeates, & Brierley, 1977).…”

Implementation of the Shoah theme in the teaching of Literary Education from the perspective of teachers of Czech Language and Literature

“…Lack of game in autistic children is mainly a result of behavioral deviation of these children (Demeyer et al, 1967;Rendle & Clancy, 1971;Rutter, 1978;Webster et al, 1980). The behavior of these children while they play is not just retarded but differs in complexity from the development of normal children (Boron & Cohen, 1987).…”

Social, language, and play behaviors of children with autism.

“…Children with autism have very different play behavior. Much research has found that children with autism demonstrated significantly less play in the symbolic category (e.g., DeMyer, 1967; Wing, Gould, Yeates, & Brierley, 1977; Ungerer & Sigman, 1981). They did not use toys in a creative and complex manner; instead, their play was repetitive and stereotyped and lacked the innovation typically found in normal symbolic play.…”