A pilot study of the effects of the way-to-play training programme in supporting communication and social engagement of parents and their children with autism.

Abstract

The Way to Play Parent Training programme (WTPPTP) supports parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by training them in the use of communication and social engagement strategies to use with their children during play. Three preschool children with ASD and their parents completed the day programme and the supporting three coaching sessions that made up the WTPPTP. Parents were encouraged to use the strategies during their everyday interactions with their child. Pre and post intervention video recordings were examined by two markers using The Play Observational Schedule and The Parent Play Questionnaires. These revealed an increase in the child’s communicative initiations and responses towards their parents during play and an increase in social engagement skills. The pre and post intervention Parent Engagement Questionnaire suggesting there was change in the perception parents held of interacting with their children. All three parents reported a change in their ability to play and engage with their child during play. This pilot study indicates the WTPPTP may be an effective training programme for parents which facilitates improved quality of interactions during play with preschoolers with ASD.