Play Skills in Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder within Their Natural Environments

Play allows toddlers to exercise various skills. However not all toddlers, like those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), engage in developmentally appropriate play. Thus, it is important to investigate play given assessment of and treatment for ASD that often occurs in play environments. This study assessed mothers' reported play of toddlers with ASD (n=3; Mage=26.5 months) in their natural environments while enrolled in an intervention program. Toddlers play was coded using five play categories. Results showed no significant differences in toddlers' engagement in play categories; however, frequencies within play categories varied. This research is important for its insight of play in ASD for therapists and caregivers, and identifying play competencies to best conduct play based therapies