Symbolic Play Development in Autistic Children and Its Relation with Language

Autistic children are significantly insufficient in symbolic play and language fields. The idea that these two fields can be connected to each other has become subject of many studies. In this study, the findings of studies made in symbolic play and language development fields are gathered, and the relation of these two fields for autistic children are presented in comparison with children displaying normal development. Different findings are seen to be appeared due to some methodological differences in researches, and these researches support the idea that symbolic plays in autistic children are behind their both normal and developmental retarded peers in terms of quality and quantity. Also, it is considered that there is a relation between symbolic play and language; but, methodological differences as well as other factors are effective on the power of the relation