Sarah E Fabrizi1, Max A Ito2, Kristin Winston3. 1. Sarah E. Fabrizi, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy Program, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers. At the time of the study, she was Doctoral Student, Department of Occupational Therapy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL; sfabrizi@fgcu.edu. 2. Max A. Ito, PhD, is Associate Professor in Occupational Therapy, College of Health Care Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL. 3. Kristin Winston, PhD, is PhD Program Director and Associate Professor in Occupational Therapy, College of Health Care Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study's objective was to investigate the effects of a community playgroup on the playfulness of children with special needs ages 15 mo to 3 yr and the responsiveness of their caregivers. METHOD: Using a pretest-posttest, repeated-measures design, we evaluated 8 child-caregiver dyads participating in an 8-wk occupational therapist-led community playgroup recruited from a purposive sample enrolled in early intervention. Video recordings from four time points over 4 mo were used to determine playfulness (Test of Playfulness) of the child and the responsiveness of the caregiver. RESULTS: Blinded raters assessed playfulness and responsiveness outcomes. A repeated-measures analysis of variance demonstrated that participation in the playgroup significantly increased child playfulness (ηp² = .89, p < .01). Analysis did not detect a change in caregiver responsiveness. CONCLUSION: The results of this study have implications for the use of playgroups in comprehensive occupational therapy practice in early intervention.
OBJECTIVE: This study's objective was to investigate the effects of a community playgroup on the playfulness of children with special needs ages 15 mo to 3 yr and the responsiveness of their caregivers. METHOD: Using a pretest-posttest, repeated-measures design, we evaluated 8 child-caregiver dyads participating in an 8-wk occupational therapist-led community playgroup recruited from a purposive sample enrolled in early intervention. Video recordings from four time points over 4 mo were used to determine playfulness (Test of Playfulness) of the child and the responsiveness of the caregiver. RESULTS: Blinded raters assessed playfulness and responsiveness outcomes. A repeated-measures analysis of variance demonstrated that participation in the playgroup significantly increased child playfulness (ηp² = .89, p < .01). Analysis did not detect a change in caregiver responsiveness. CONCLUSION: The results of this study have implications for the use of playgroups in comprehensive occupational therapy practice in early intervention.