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Published on: July 31, 2017
Play behavior and attachment in toddlers with autism
Fabiënne B A Naber1, Marian J Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marinus H van Ijzendoorn
1Centre for Child and Family studies, University of Leiden, 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, The Netherlands. Fnaber@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|September 27, 2007
Summary
Caregiver attachment quality significantly predicts play behavior in toddlers, including those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Secure attachment fosters better play development than the presence of ASD alone.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Psychiatry
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Research
Background:
- Play is crucial for developing social skills.
- Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit atypical play behaviors, potentially linked to social development delays.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate manipulative, functional, and symbolic play in toddlers with and without ASD.
- To examine the relationship between caregiver-child interaction quality and play behavior development.
Main Methods:
- Comparative study of play behavior in toddlers with and without ASD (mean age 26.45 months).
- Assessment of manipulative, functional, and symbolic play.
- Evaluation of caregiver-child interaction quality, focusing on security of attachment.
Main Results:
- The quality of child-caregiver interaction was positively associated with play behavior development.
- Secure attachment between toddler and caregiver was a significant predictor of enhanced play behavior.
- Attachment security was a stronger predictor of play level than the presence of ASD when controlling for developmental level.
Conclusions:
- Early caregiver-child attachment quality is a critical factor in fostering play behavior development in toddlers.
- Interventions supporting secure attachment may benefit the play and social development of children with ASD.
- Attachment relationship is a more potent developmental influence on play than the diagnosis of ASD in early childhood.
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