THE EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY WITH PLAY BASED ON ACP: ACTIVE CHILD PROGRAM TO PROMOTE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD WITH AUTISM

Abstract

This research aimed to 1) develop a physical play-based activity kit based on the ACP concept to promote emotional and social skills in children with autism, and 2) compare the pre- and post-use results of using a physical play-based activity kit based on the ACP concept to promote emotional and social skills in early childhood with autism. The target group consisted of 6 early childhood children with autism, aged 5-10 years, receiving services at the Bueng Kan Provincial Special Education Center, Bueng Khong Long Service Unit. They were medically diagnosed with autism using a purposive sampling method. The research instruments included 1) a physical play-based activity kit, and 2) an emotional and social skills assessment form. Data were analyzed using basic statistics, including means, standard deviations, and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test. The research results found that 1) the physical activity package by playing was examined by 5 experts with a consistency index of 0.97 and each activity package was between 0.87-1.00, indicating that the physical activity package was consistent and had the highest level of appropriateness ( = 4.67, S.D. = 0.17). 2) The emotional and social skills of early childhood children with autism after using the physical activity package by playing were significantly higher than before using the activity package at the .05 level, indicating that the physical activity package by playing affected the development of emotional and social skills of early childhood children with autism.

Keywords: Physical Activity Play program, Active Child Program: ACP, Early Childhood with Autism