Play Preference and Play Performance in Normal Boys and Boys with Sensory Integrative Dysfunction

Abstract

The Preschool Play Scale and Preschool Play Materials Preference Inventory were administered to 66 pre-school-age boys (35 normal, 31 with sensory integrative [SI] dysfunction). Data were analyzed descriptively. The results demonstrated that (a) normal pre-school-age boys and pre-school-age boys with SI dysfunction did not differ with regard to play preference; (b) preschool-age boys with SI dysfunction scored significantly lower than did their normal peers on three of the four dimensions of the play scale; and (c) there was no relationship between play preference and performance for the boys with SI dysfunction and only a moderate relationship for the normal boys. Furthermore, none of the scores of the normal preschoolers fell into the category of high preference, low performance in any area of play, whereas 9% of the scores of the boys with SI dysfunction were associated with this type of play deficit. A greater percentage of scores (22%) of the boys with SI dysfunction fell into the category of low preference, low performance in given play categories; only 4% of the scores of the normal boys fell into this category. Clinical implications and recommendations for further study of play deficits are discussed.