This study examined the differential effect of a highly structured adult-directed behavioral treatment condition and a more flexible child-oriented blending of behavioral and developmental treatment strategies in a clinical group setting with autistic children. The children with autism following the more flexible child-oriented treatment condition engaged significantly more in higher-order play activities allowing for peer proximity and demonstrated better social functioning during activities with other autistic peers. A relation of child-oriented teaching utilizing less intrusive prompting to more developmentally appropriate play as well as social functioning was found. The findings suggest that child-oriented play and social skill interventions in the clinical context, although being applied in a group of autistic children, may facilitate social functioning and engagement. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.
Strauss, K., Esposito, M., Polidori, G., Vicari, S., Valeri, G., Fava, L., Facilitating play, peer engagement and social functioning in a peer group of young autistic children: Comparing highly structured and more flexible behavioral approaches, <<RESEARCH IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS>>, 2014; 8 (4): 413-423. [doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2014.01.002] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/167098]
Facilitating play, peer engagement and social functioning in a peer group of young autistic children: Comparing highly structured and more flexible behavioral approaches
Vicari, Stefano;
2014
Abstract
This study examined the differential effect of a highly structured adult-directed behavioral treatment condition and a more flexible child-oriented blending of behavioral and developmental treatment strategies in a clinical group setting with autistic children. The children with autism following the more flexible child-oriented treatment condition engaged significantly more in higher-order play activities allowing for peer proximity and demonstrated better social functioning during activities with other autistic peers. A relation of child-oriented teaching utilizing less intrusive prompting to more developmentally appropriate play as well as social functioning was found. The findings suggest that child-oriented play and social skill interventions in the clinical context, although being applied in a group of autistic children, may facilitate social functioning and engagement. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.