Increasing Play Complexity in Young Children with Disabilities

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

Summary

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).

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.