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Abstract
Background We investigated the play behaviours of children with autism. Cognitive and social levels of play engaged in by 4‐ to 8‐year‐old children with autism spectrum disorders were examined in naturalistic classroom settings. In addition, play at home was compared with play at school via mother and educator questionnaires.
Method Seventeen school‐aged children, their educators, and their mothers participated in the study. Each participant was observed for one free play session on 5 separate days.
Results The most frequently observed play behaviours included parallel‐functional play, adult interactions, and solitary‐functional play. Mothers and educators did not differ significantly in their perspectives of the participants' play behaviours. In general, educators' and mothers' reports were positively related to researcher observations of participants' play behaviours.
Conclusions This study provides baseline data for future research on the play behaviours of children with autism spectrum disorders. Methodological considerations and practical implications of the findings are discussed.