Collaborative play for autistic children: A systematic literature review

This paper presents a systematic literature review investigating collaborative play for autistic children. Autistic children are often faced with challenges related to social interaction, communication, and interest during play. This underscores the importance of exploring collaborative play as a potential intervention. Collaborative play, where children engage together towards shared goals, offers promising prospects for improving communication abilities in autistic children. To conduct this review, four search engines were utilized, resulting in the identification of 2,452 articles. Through a systematic selection process, the initial pool was narrowed down to 74 articles for further examination, eventually focusing on 14 papers. The findings indicate that various resources and strategies can facilitate collaborative play among autistic children. The review discussed the technologies employed and emphasized the need for regular engagement in collaborative play for autistic children, with the presence of a mediator – often parents or teachers – to support the different actions. The studies highlighted the inclusive environments, where autistic children play alongside their neurotypical peers, fostering social development can be of support. This review sheds light on the critical aspects of collaborative play that have not been adequately studied, providing valuable insights for researchers and practitioners.