Symbolic Play in Autism: a Review

Overview

Journal J Autism Dev Disord

Publisher Springer

Date 1993 Jun 1

PMID 7687245

Citations 46

Authors

C Jarrold

J Boucher

P Smith

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Experimental research into the symbolic play of autistic children is reviewed in an attempt to outline the nature of their deficit in this area. While many studies can be criticized on methodological grounds, there is good evidence for an impairment in the spontaneous symbolic play of autistic children, an impairment that appears to extend to cover spontaneous functional play also. However studies that have investigated elicited and instructed play have indicated that autistic children may have a capacity for symbolic play that they do not spontaneously exhibit. The implications of these findings for various hypotheses concerning a symbolic play deficit in autism are considered and directions for future research are outlined.

Citing Articles

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Moerman F, Van de Vyver H, Warreyn P, Erdogan M, Noens I, Sivaraman M J Autism Dev Disord. 2024; .

PMID: 39692959 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06685-9.

Developmental Play Skills as Outcomes of Early Intervention.

Chang Y, Shire S, Shih W, Kasari C J Autism Dev Disord. 2023; 54(12):4369-4375.

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Familiarization with Mixed Reality for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Eye Tracking Study.

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Symbolic Play among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review.

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Developing Pretend Play in Autistic Children Using the Playboxes Joint Play Approach as Part of Ongoing Practice.

Marwick H, Jarvie K, Cowie H, Johnston L, Hammond-Evans N, Cockayne R J Autism Dev Disord. 2021; 52(7):3050-3060.

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