Effectiveness of adaptive pretend play on affective expression and imagination of children with cerebral palsy.
OBJECTIVE
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have difficulty participating in role-pretending activities. The concept of adaptive play makes play accessible by modifying play materials for different needs or treatment goals for children with CP. This study examines the affective expressions and imagination in children with CP as a function of ordinary versus adaptive pretend play.


METHODS
The Affect in Play Scale-Brief Rating measured the affective expression and imagination for 29 children with CP and 29 typically developing children (mean age=7.34 years). Two groups of children were observed while playing with a standard set of ordinary toys for ten times and with a standard procedure of adaptive pretend play for ten times.


RESULTS
The results show significantly different affective expressions and imagination between the two groups. Typically developing children displayed much more affective expression and imagination. However, a more positive influence of affective expression and imagination occurred in children with CP than in typically developing children. In repeated measures analysis, the frequency of positive affective expression and imagination of children with CP was higher when pretending with adaptive toys.


CONCLUSIONS
Adaptive pretend play can promote more role-pretending behaviors and a sense of environmental control during the manipulating process for children with CP.
National Hsinchu University of Education, Department of Special Education, No. 521, Nanda Rd., Hsinchu City 300, Taiwan. elsajj@mail.nhcue.edu.tw
Hsieh-Chun
HC
Hsieh
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004644:Emotions; D005201:Fantasy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012381:Role Playing