Speech Therapy -> Expressive Language -> Play Skills

Play Skills

Stages of Play as Development Progresses include Solitary Play (exploring how body/objects move), Solitary Play (uninterested in play with others), Spectator/Onlooker (allows others to play near, but doesn't initiate play with others), Parellel Play (plays alongside others, not with them), Associative Play, Cooperative Play.

Reference links

  • Why Do the Children (Pretend) Play? 1
    ctheory.sitehost.iu.edu     Author: Angeline S. Lillard - Pretend play appears to be an evolved behavior because it is universal and appears on a set schedule. However, no specific functions have been determined for pretend play and empirical tests for its functions in humans are elusive. Yet animal play fighting can serve as an analog, as both activities involve as-if, metacommunicative signaling and symbolism. In the rat and some other animals, adaptive functions of play fighting include assisting social behavior and emotion regulation. Research is presented suggesting that pretend play might serve similar functions for humans.

Activity List(s)

Visual Schedule Cards

Goal Bank

  • Hannah will use preferred toy in 4 or more different ways (hit, shake, squeeze, etc.) in 5 out of 3 opportunities across 5 consecutive sessions. 1
  • Autumn will engage with a preferred toy in a familiar setting in 8 out of 10 opportunities across 3 consecutive sessions. 1
  • Marilyn will participate in play-based activities with another person for 3-5 minutes using objects appropriately with eye contact and attention with 80% accuracy across 5 therapy sessions as measured by clinician data and observation to increase language abilities. 2
  • Charlie will engage in pretend play with a familiar partner in a natural setting in 2 out of 3 opportunities across 3 out of 5 sessions. 1
  • Kayla will use doll, action figure, or stuffed animal in pretend play in a structured setting in 5 out of 6 opportunities across 3 sessions. 1
  • Chloe will engage in turn-taking while playing with familiar partner in a structured setting in 4 out of 5 opportunities in 3 consecutive sessions. 1

Resources