DEVELOPING SOCIAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AGED 3–4 YEARS THROUGH NON-DIRECTIVE PLAY THERAPY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18173/2354-1075.2026-0028Keywords:
non-directive play therapy, autism spectrum disorder, social communication, social participationAbstract
This single-case intervention study examined the application of non-directive play therapy (NDPT) to enhance social communication skills in a child with moderate autism spectrum disorder (ASD) aged 3 years. The intervention consisted of 32 individual play sessions, each lasting 45–60 minutes, conducted over eight weeks. Data were collected through video recordings, structured observations, and the Social Communication Checklist, and were analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Results indicated significant improvements in several domains of social communication, including social participation, expressive language, receptive language, and functional play skills. The child demonstrated increased initiation of interaction, more active engagement in joint play, and expanded functional vocabulary during the intervention period. These findings suggest that NDPT may be a promising approach for supporting early social communication development in young children with ASD. The study also contributes preliminary empirical evidence on the application of NDPT within the Vietnamese early intervention context.
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