Parent-mediated Play-based Interventions to Improve Social Communication and Language Skills of Preschool Autistic Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Play-based interventions are gaining popularity amongst autistic children. Parents are uniquely placed to deliver these interventions as they are most familiar with their child’s strengths and challenges. Little is known about the efficacy of parent-mediated play-based interventions on autistic children’s development. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and quasi-experiments focusing on social communication skills, language skills, and autistic traits of preschool autistic children (aged 0-6-year-old) in non-educational settings was conducted. Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review, 15 of which were included in the meta-analysis. Parent-mediated play-based interventions improved autistic children’s social communication (d=.61) and language skills (d=.50) and reduced autistic traits (d=-.22). These findings suggest that parent-mediated play-based interventions hold promise for improving the quality of life for autistic children.