Adaptive Play
Children enter the world equipped with sensorimotor processes that will enable them to explore their surroundings. Young children are capable of gaining access to their vision, hearing, smell, taste, and movement to learn about the news things that may come into contact with in their everyday routines. Play is the vehicle for all children to experiment with the multitude of home and communicate environments they experience of a daily basis.
Typically, play is characterized by its unscripted and undirected attributes. Children construct meaning through predictions of what may happen while exploring multiple interactive situations involving toys, props, peers, and other objects surround them. Play is the avenue for young children to formulate multiple pathways of neurological connections that build the capacity for communication, thinking, social-emotional skills of self-help.
Stages of Play
Solitary:
Description: Exploring the world, using their own senses, playing alone, senses to explore objects in the same way in a repetitive fashion
Play Stage: Sensory Exploration
Parallel:
Description: Playing alongside another child but not interacting, Manipulating objects in a functional manner, such as stacking blocks or rings
Play Stage: Functional
Associative:
Description: Playing with another child during the same activity and talking but not working together, Symbolic organization of materials to sort and build objects.
Play Stage: Constructive
Cooperative:
Description: Playing with another child in an interactive way, including talking, interacting, and problem sovling together, Object purpose is adjusted and used with different intent, such as a cip becomes a car
Play Stage: Pretend
Description: Exploring the world, using their own senses, playing alone, senses to explore objects in the same way in a repetitive fashion
Play Stage: Sensory Exploration
Parallel:
Description: Playing alongside another child but not interacting, Manipulating objects in a functional manner, such as stacking blocks or rings
Play Stage: Functional
Associative:
Description: Playing with another child during the same activity and talking but not working together, Symbolic organization of materials to sort and build objects.
Play Stage: Constructive
Cooperative:
Description: Playing with another child in an interactive way, including talking, interacting, and problem sovling together, Object purpose is adjusted and used with different intent, such as a cip becomes a car
Play Stage: Pretend
Types of Technology
Low Technology:
Homemade switch:
Description: A simple switch made out of wire, copper, plug, and tape
Purpose: Assist a child to activate toys and a computer
Textured Switch:
Description: Provides a large, textured surface with a sensitive touch
Purpose: Use with children who may not be able to visually locate the switch; provides tactile cues
Mid Technology:
High Technology:
Latch Switch:
Description: Any switch that activates a battery-operated toy or appliance and maintains the condition until the switch is hit a second time to deactivate
Purpose: Use with children possessing limited motor control and movement
Bright box switch
Description: A touch switch with visual and tactile cues for operation
Purpose: Used with children with visual and sensory impairments
Homemade switch:
Description: A simple switch made out of wire, copper, plug, and tape
Purpose: Assist a child to activate toys and a computer
Textured Switch:
Description: Provides a large, textured surface with a sensitive touch
Purpose: Use with children who may not be able to visually locate the switch; provides tactile cues
Mid Technology:
High Technology:
Latch Switch:
Description: Any switch that activates a battery-operated toy or appliance and maintains the condition until the switch is hit a second time to deactivate
Purpose: Use with children possessing limited motor control and movement
Bright box switch
Description: A touch switch with visual and tactile cues for operation
Purpose: Used with children with visual and sensory impairments