Parents’ Observations on the Characteristics of the Toy Play in Children with Mental Retardation

The present study uses cross sectional observation and key informant interview techniques to elicit data on play in a group of 60 children with mild and moderate mental retardation. Their chronological ages ranges between 3-6 years. The sample included males and females children with mental retardation and the sixty parents of these sample children were surveyed regarding their observation about the characteristics of use of toy play in their children with mental retardation. The purpose of this study was to examine parents’ observation of the toy play of their children with mental retardation. Participants were 60 parents of children aged 3 to 6 years. Each parents completed a questionnaire that focused on the characteristics of the toy play in which their child engaged. Data are presented descriptively and with respect to the significance of differences between response percentages. The results indicate that a sequential hierarchy exists in play activities of children proceeding from simple to complex, general to specific and/or concrete to abstract modes of play in children with mental retardation and the toy preferences of children with mental retardation appear to be restricted to very few item. Also the majority of parents reported that their children not only engaged in appropriate play with toys, but that their children engaged in advanced levels of play. Also their children would play with toys for extended periods of time during a given day, would play with a combination of toys, and needed little, if any, prompting to engage toys. Such reports stand in sharp contrast to much of the extant play literature and provide rarely examined, yet invaluable, parent perspective. The implication for the use of parent reports is discussed.