Play is considered to be important for the development of young children in that it provides a means to expand their interests, promote engagement and learning, and increase social interactions. Children with autism, however, display deficits in play skills, such as lack of pretend play and rigid or stereotyped manners of play. Research suggests supported play techniques, such as reciprocal imitation training, play expansions, and scaffolding increase play skills in children diagnosed with autism. The current study evaluated the effects of a training package to teach staff members supported play techniques to six young children diagnosed with autism. The study employed a concurrent multiple baseline design across two preschool classrooms. The results suggest that the training package successfully increased staff member use of the supported play techniques and child and staff engagement. The training, however, did not have consistent effects on child social engagement (proximity, attending, and initiating) or on the types of child play (simple manipulation, advanced manipulation, and pretend play). Staff member responses to the post-intervention satisfaction and feedback survey were positive and the results are discussed in the context of the observation procedures and directions for future studies.

The current study investigated the effectiveness of interventions designed to increase a child's engagement in sociodramatic play. Griffin, a 4-year-old boy diagnosed with autism, participated in a play group with two typically developing peers and ten sets of play materials pertaining to a specific theme. Baseline sessions indicated that Griffin engaged in lower rates of sociodramatic play and higher rates of isolate and other play compared to the typically developing peers. The Instructions to Peers intervention consisted of giving instructions to the peer participants prior to each play session, and the Structured Sociodramatic Play intervention consisted of the experimenter engaging Griffin and the peers in sociodramatic play with five sets of play materials prior to each play session. A larger play group with four typically developing peers (two of the peers were participants in the first play group) and five sets of play material themes was used to test for generalization. Results indicated that giving instructions to peers did not have an effect on the amount of sociodramatic play Griffin engaged in. The Structured Sociodramatic Play condition increased Griffin's levels of cooperative play to levels similar to the typically developing peers, and increased his sociodramatic play during some sessions. No differences in play occurred in the generalization setting or with untrained play materials in either setting. A discussion of limitations and factors contributing to the ineffectiveness of the interventions is included.

This thesis investigates how the behaviors and skills learned during childhood play are conducive towards successful conflict resolution in adulthood. From reviewing the literature, it is clear that pretend play, social play, and games help the socio-cognitive development of a child. Through these types of play, children learn how to become better at taking another person’s perspective, effectively communicate, and regulate their socio- emotional behavior. Additionally, recognizing that negotiation seems to be the most mature way to handle conflict, I argue that children learn to navigate opposition through engaging in their own peer to peer conflicts during play. As a result, using their practiced perspective-taking, communication, and socio-emotional skills learned from play, they improve in their conflict management. Although there has not been substantial studies connecting play and conflict resolution, it is clear that the skills learned during play are associated with constructive resolution–-which as adults, is usually negotiation. Nonetheless, there needs to be more research done on how engaging in conflict and having these broad behaviors and attributes are more directly related to successful conflict management.

Children with autism, by diagnostic criteria, experience a lack of age appropriate play and social skills (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). This study evaluated three typically developing peer's ability to implement Pivotal Response Training strategies during recess with a child with autism in their third grade class. A concurrent multiple probe baseline across peers design was used to assess peers ability to implement Pivotal Response Training strategies with the target child and the effects of intervention on the play and communication behavior of the target child. Generalization measures were taken in an untrained environment. Measures of social validity in the form of peer interviews and teacher questionnaire were completed. Results displayed that peers were able to use Pivotal Response Training strategies during recess with a child with autism. During post-training/intervention and follow-up sessions the child with autism engaged in higher levels of communication to peers, and slightly lower levels of communication to self. The target child also experienced a decreasing trend in levels of solitary play, an increasing trend in levels of play with peer trainers and levels of parallel play remained near baseline levels. Peers were also able to generalize these skills to an untrained environment to an extent.

Behavioral researchers have investigated procedures for identifying preferred items for individuals with varying levels of developmental disabilities. Some researchers in this area have reported difficulties in identifying preferred items for individuals with severe to profound multiple disabilities (SPMD), in part because the individuals may not possess the motor skills needed to select and manipulate the items included within the assessment. The purpose of the current study was to address three research questions: Would differences in preference patterns be observed if individuals with SPMD could activate toys with a motor response that is within their repertoire (i.e., press a large microswitch to activate the toy) versus when they are required to perform a motor response that may not be within their repertoire (e.g., sliding knobs, twisting dials to activate a toy)? Would teaching specific skills to activate a toy result in increased toy engagement and a shift in preference toward directly operating the toy? Would teaching the participant a motor response to activate the toy directly affect the levels of microswitch engagement observed? Data were collected within a combination multiple baseline (across 2 participants) and multielement (across conditions) design. The results of this study showed that (a) differences in preference were observed when different measures of assessing preferences were conducted, (b) acquisition of specific motor skills resulted in an increase in preference toward directly manipulating items, and (c) acquisition of motor skills also resulted in a decrease in activating items via microswitches. These results extend the preference assessment literature by showing that the motor skills present within an individual's current repertoire may affect the results of preference assessments for individuals with SPMD.

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