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Incorporation of Restricted Interests Reduces Stereotypy and Facilitates Play and Social Engagement Between a Preschooler with Autism and Peers in an Inclusive Setting

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Abstract

Effects of a restricted interest play activity on stereotypy, social engagement, and functional play of a preschooler with autism were evaluated in an ABAB design. Baseline free play with peers involved high levels of stereotypy and little play and social engagement. Incorporating restricted interests decreased stereotypy and increased play and social engagement. Effects generalized across peers and were maintained at six-weeks. Results suggest a potential approach to supporting play and social interaction in inclusive settings and extend research suggesting a relationship between play and stereotypy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Special Education, The University of Texas at Austin, 1912 Speedway, D5300, Austin, TX, 78712, USA

    Laci Watkins, Mark O’Reilly, Michelle Kuhn & Katherine Ledbetter-Cho

  2. Clinic for Autism Research Evaluation and Support, Texas State University, Education Building, Room 1023, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA

    Russell Lang

  3. Department of Special Education, Radboud University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Montessorilaan 3, 6525 HP, Nijmegen, Netherlands

    Tanja van der Burg

Authors
  1. Laci Watkins
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  2. Mark O’Reilly
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  3. Michelle Kuhn
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  4. Russell Lang
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  5. Tanja van der Burg
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  6. Katherine Ledbetter-Cho
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laci Watkins.

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The authors declare that no funding was received for this study.

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Appropriate institutional board approval and informed consent was obtained for the study. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Watkins, L., O’Reilly, M., Kuhn, M. et al. Incorporation of Restricted Interests Reduces Stereotypy and Facilitates Play and Social Engagement Between a Preschooler with Autism and Peers in an Inclusive Setting. Adv Neurodev Disord 1, 37–41 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41252-016-0004-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41252-016-0004-2

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