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This chapter is included in the collective volume titled "Specialised Curricula for students with autism" and is a newly developed curriculum for the education of students with autism in Greece. This chapter presents in extensive detail the learning aims and educational activities for the teaching of play skills to students with autism. In specific, the chapter is organised around four forms of play: functional play, constructive play, symbolic play and games. The presentation of each type of play skills follows the developmental approach, in which play development is related with cognitive and social readiness as outlined through four developmental stages: a) solitary play, b) parallel play, c) social play in the form of turn taking, and d) collaborative play. The achievement of learning outcomes for each type of play is associated with educational activities which are based on evidence-based methods, such as structured teaching (structuring, visual supports) and cognitive approaches. This chapter is the first step for the provision of a curriculum aimed at the development and teaching of play skills to students with autism in the public educational system in Greece. This chapter was prepared with funding provided by the European Union and the Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs. |
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