Increasing Play Complexity in Young Children with Disabilities

Presenters: Erin E. Barton, John Wright, & Brandy Locchetta

Play is a critical early developmental milestone that contributes to the learning and wellbeing of young children (Lifter, Mason, & Barton, 2011). Play is particularly important for young children with disabilities, as they learn important skills within playful interactions and contexts with their peers (U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Education, 2015). Early childhood settings should create multiple opportunities with the needed supports that ensure children with and without disabilities engage in sustained play of increasing complexity, including promoting meaningful interactions across people and contexts (National Association for the Education of Young Children, 2009).

Summary

Graphs

Figure 1.  Total prompted, unprompted, and unprompted different play behaviors across all children

Figure 2.  Unprompted different FPP and unprompted different OS, IOA, and AAA across children.