{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,4]],"date-time":"2026-09-04T23:02:09Z","timestamp":1788562929338,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":57,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2003,12,1]],"date-time":"2003-12-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1070236800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Autism"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2003,12]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>A variety of techniques grounded in behavioral psychology, and more specifically in applied behavior analysis, have been established to increase and improve play skills in children with autistic spectrum disorders. This article introduces a set of efficacious methods, which range from highly structured techniques to more naturalistic strategies. It focuses on object play as other authors in the issue discuss social play in greater depth. Behavioral techniques that are reviewed include: discrete trial training, use of stereotyped behaviors to increase play skills, pivotal response training, reciprocal imitation training, differential reinforcement of appropriate behavior, in vivo modeling and play scripts, and video modeling. A discussion of expanding behavior techniques to teach more complex play as well as training in varied environments is also presented. References are provided to allow the reader to obtain more in-depth information about each technique.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/1362361303007004006","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2003,11,11]],"date-time":"2003-11-11T18:39:30Z","timestamp":1068575970000},"page":"401-413","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":75,"title":["Behavioral Approaches to Promoting Play"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"7","author":[{"given":"Aubyn C.","family":"Stahmer","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Children\u2019s Hospital and Health Center, San Diego, USA,"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Brooke","family":"Ingersoll","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of California, San Diego, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Cynthia","family":"Carter","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Children\u2019s Hospital and Health Center, San Diego, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2003,12,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"atypb1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/109830070000200201"},{"key":"atypb2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2511\/rpsd.23.4.300"},{"key":"atypb3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/109830079900100403"},{"key":"atypb4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1901\/jaba.1989.22-275"},{"key":"atypb5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00914244"},{"key":"atypb6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02172274"},{"key":"atypb7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1005635326276"},{"key":"atypb8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0005-7967(70)90040-9"},{"key":"atypb9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"DUNLAP, G. (1984) \u2018The Influence of Task Variation and Maintenance Tasks on the Learning and Affect of Autistic Children\u2019 , Journal of Experimental Child Psychology 31: 41-64 .","DOI":"10.1016\/0022-0965(84)90057-2"},{"key":"atypb10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0270-4684(82)90016-7"},{"key":"atypb11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1901\/jaba.1981.14-3"},{"key":"atypb12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1901\/jaba.1992.25-265"},{"key":"atypb13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0270-4684(85)90015-1"},{"key":"atypb14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1901\/jaba.1987.20-89"},{"key":"atypb15","unstructured":"INGERSOLL, B. & SCHREIBMAN, L. (2002) \u2018The Effect of Reciprocal Imitation Training on Imitative and Spontaneous Pretend Play in Children with Autism\u2019 , paper presented at the 2nd International Meeting for Research on Autism, Orlando, FL."},{"key":"atypb16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0891-4222(00)00031-7"},{"key":"atypb17","unstructured":"KLINGER, L. G. & DAWSON, G. (1992) \u2018Facilitating Early Social and Communicative Development in Children with Autism\u2019, in S. F. WARREN & E. J. REICHLE (eds) Causes and Effects in Communication and Language Intervention, vol. 1, pp. 157-186. Baltimore, MD: Brookes ."},{"key":"atypb18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00916505"},{"key":"atypb19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1901\/jaba.1987.20-243"},{"key":"atypb20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02211871"},{"key":"atypb21","unstructured":"KOEGEL, R. L., KOEGEL, L. K. & SCHREIBMAN, L. (1991) \u2018Assessing and Training Parents in Teaching Pivotal Behaviors\u2019, in R. J. PRINZ (ed.) Advances in Behavioral Assessment of Children and Families: A Research Annual, vol. 5, pp. 65-82. London: Jessica Kingsley ."},{"key":"atypb22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1901\/jaba.1992.25-341"},{"key":"atypb23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2511\/rpsd.24.3.174"},{"key":"atypb24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/027112140102100203"},{"key":"atypb25","unstructured":"LEAF, R. & MCEACHIN, J. (1999) A Work in Progress: Behavior Management Strategies and a Curriculum for Intensive Behavioral Treatment of Autism. New York: DRL ."},{"key":"atypb26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/105381519301700206"},{"key":"atypb27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2511\/rpsd.24.3.133"},{"key":"atypb28","unstructured":"MAURICE, C., GREEN, G. & LUCE, S. C. 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(1994) \u2018A Group Training Program for Siblings of Children with Autism: Acquisition of Language Training Procedures and Related Behavior Change\u2019, doctoral dissertation, University of California, San Diego . Dissertation Abstracts International 54, 4951-B ."},{"key":"atypb33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/108835769701200403"},{"key":"atypb34","unstructured":"REAMER, R. B., BRADY, M. P. & HAWKINS, J. (1998) \u2018The Effects of Video Self-Modeling on Parents\u2019 Interactions with Children with Developmental Disabilities\u2019 , Education & Training in Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities 33: 131-143 ."},{"key":"atypb35","unstructured":"REEVE, S. A. (2001) \u2018Effects of Modeling, Video Modeling, Prompting, and Reinforcement Strategies on Increasing Helping Behavior in Children with Autism\u2019, doctoral dissertation, City University of New York, 2001 . 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(2002) \u2018Using Video Modeling to Teach Generalized Toy Play\u2019 , paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavior Analysis, Toronto, Canada, May."},{"key":"atypb40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1207\/s15566935eed0703_1"},{"key":"atypb41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0145445501251008"},{"key":"atypb42","unstructured":"SMITH, M. J. (2001) Teaching Play Skills to Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. New York: DRL ."},{"key":"atypb43","unstructured":"STAHMER, A. C. 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