The symbolic and object play of children with autism: A review

The unique characteristics of autistic children's symbolic and object play are presented and discussed in the context of a literature review covering research since 1964. Several theoretical issues are highlighted: the relationship of play in facilitating language and cognition, play as an intervention, and play as an assessment tool. Difficulties in research methodology due to pooling autistic and schizophrenic subject are raised, as well as possible difficulties inherent in ignoring severity levels within the autistic population. The appropriateness of play therapy is questioned, and evidence is presented to provide encouragement for further inquiry into the study of autistic play.

[1]  J. Piaget.  Play, dreams and imitation in childhood , 1951 .

[2]  D. Ottinger,et al.  Comparison of the Toy Play Behavior of Autistic, Retarded, and Normal Children , 1964 .

[3]  N. A. Mann,et al.  Toy-Play Behavior and Use of Body by Autistic and Normal Children as Reported by Mothers , 1967, Psychological reports.

[4]  The autistic syndrome : proceedings of the Sandoz Working Party on Definition, Nomenclature, and Classification : held in the University of Queensland, August 1969 , 1971 .

[5]  W. Demyer,et al.  Imitation in autistic, early schizophrenic, and non-psychotic subnormal children , 1972, Journal of autism and childhood schizophrenia.

[6]  J. Flavell.  Reduction of stereotypies by reinforcement of toy play. , 1973, Mental retardation.

[7]  R. Koegel,et al.  Increasing spontaneous play by suppressing self-stimulation in autistic children. , 1974, Journal of applied behavior analysis.

[8]  M. DeMyer,et al.  The nature of the neuropsychological disability in autistic children , 1975, Journal of autism and childhood schizophrenia.

[9]  M. Lowe.  Trends in the development of representional play in infants from one to three years--an observational study. , 1975, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines.

[10]  S. Harris,et al.  Increasing isolate and social play in severely disturbed children: Intervention and postintervention effectiveness , 1975, Journal of autism and childhood schizophrenia.

[11]  J. Kagan,et al.  The Developmental Progression of Manipulative Play in the First Two Years. , 1976 .

[12]  M. Coleman.  The Autistic syndromes , 1976 .

[13]  L. Wing,et al.  Symbolic play in severely mentally retarded and in autistic children. , 1977, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines.

[14]  E. Saltz,et al.  Training disadvantaged preschoolers on various fantasy activities: effects on cognitive functioning and impulse control. , 1977, Child development.

[15]  A. DesLauriers.  Play, Symbols, and the Development of Language , 1978 .

[16]  M. Rutter.  Diagnosis and Definition , 1978 .

[17]  L. Wing.  Social, Behavioral, and Cognitive Characteristics: An Epidemiological Approach , 1978 .

[18]  Developmental Issues and Prognosis , 1978 .

[19]  J. Foley,et al.  Free-play behavior of atypical children: An approach to assessment , 1979, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[20]  M. Sigman,et al.  Symbolic play and language comprehension in autistic children. , 1981, Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry.

[21]  S. McHale,et al.  Using play to facilitate the social development of handicapped children , 1982 .