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 (eta(2)(p) = .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.
