The Effects of Toys on The Play Behavior of Handicapped Preschoolers

This study sought to determine the uses that handicapped preschool children made of toys commonly found in early childhood classrooms. Of particular interest was the question of whether these toys were used in ways different from nonhandicapped preschool children. Sets of toys were selected that are used primarily in social or solitary play by nonhandicapped young children and their use was observed in two classrooms containing handicapped preschoolers. Based on teacher nomination the children in each classroom were classified post-hoc as high or low interactors. During the observation the toy use was coded into predetermined categories, isolate or cooperative. Results indicated that overall toy use closely resembled that of nonhandicapped young children, there were higher levels of cooperative play for the low interactive group when using the social toys. Need for further research and classroom implications were discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Levine, Mark H.

• Education, Special

Identifier

(UMI)AAI8610955

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/69041