The Play Cycle, Out of School Hours Services and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Authors

Fiona McKay, Griffith University, AustraliaFollow
Jennifer Cartmel, Griffith University - AustraliaFollow

Abstract

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) use Outside School Hours Care Services (OSHC) on a regular basis. However, they experience many barriers to a fully inclusive experience. This study examined whether the use of the Play Cycle (King, 2020) held any value as a means of reducing those barriers to access.

Four educators from an OSHC service in Brisbane, South East Queensland, Australia who were using the Play Cycle and Play Cycle Observation Method in their practice were interviewed to gain their perspectives on the ways in which the play cycle was valuable to them when working with children with ASD. The responses were analysed using thematic techniques.

Despite the small sample size used in this study, it is still believed that the results achieved are reliable and can contribute towards the improvement of the OSHC experience for children with ASD.

Recommended Citation

McKay, F., & Cartmel, J. (2025). The Play Cycle, Out of School Hours Services and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. International Journal of Playwork Practice, 5(1), Article 1. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/ijpp/vol5/iss1/10

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