Teaching "Imaginary Objects" Symbolic Play to Young Children with Autism
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Updated: Sep 24, 2026

Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism
Published on: March 27, 2012
Gabrielle T Lee1, Sheng Xu2, Shufang Guo3
1Faculty of Education, Western University, 1137 Western Road, London, ON, N6G 1G7, Canada.
Abstract:
Symbolic play skills are important in language acquisition and child development. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have difficulties demonstrating such play behaviors. Imaginary objects symbolic play refers to play behavior in which children perform play actions without actual objects. Three boys with ASD (3-7 years) participated in this study. A multiple-probe across three participants and two settings design was employed to evaluate the effects of intraverbal training on the acquisition and generalization of imaginary objects symbolic play. Results indicated that all children acquired and maintained target imaginary objects play activities. Generalization to untaught activities occurred in one child. All three children' symbolic play emerged or increased in free play after the instruction.
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