What is the PLAY Project? 

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The PLAY (Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters) Project is an evidence-based autism intervention developed by Rick Solomon MD, a Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician. The PLAY Project is devoted to helping parents develop a better connection with their child through play, and helping the child improve their language, development, behavior, and social skills. We watch parents develop a joyous relationship with their child because of the PLAY Project. 

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The PLAY Project Home Consulting Program offers support and training for families of young children with autism in the home setting.  We find the home is where the child is most comfortable and acts most naturally.  Parents are coached by credentialed professionals to implement methods and techniques that are effective, fun, and useful in day-to-day interactions with their child. A benefit of contracting with the Ann Arbor Center for developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics PLAY Project program is that each Certified PLAY Project consultant receives direct supervision of Dr. Solomon.  The PLAY Project consultant and Dr. Solomon view videos together and discuss each child’s case and ongoing development. 

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The success of the PLAY Project spans thousands of families all over the world with more than 100 sites in 30 states and 9 countries. PLAY Project Consultants hold degrees in child development fields (e.g. Speech, OT, Psychology, Social Work, or Special Education) and master the PLAY Project intervention through intensive training and supervision by Dr. Solomon and his experienced staff.

 

Do I need a diagnosis of autism to start the PLAY Project?

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Before beginning the Home Consultation Program, parents typically establish the diagnosis of an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) for their child from a pediatric professional. If your child does not yet have a diagnosis, please contact us to discuss possibilities. 

 

How does the PLAY Project help my child?

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You are your child’s first and best teacher and you know your child better than anyone else.  PLAY Project is considered a parent-implemented autism intervention.  The PLAY Project Consultant assesses your child’s developmental and behavioral changes at each visit. The assessment is used to develop the child’s individualized PLAY Plan: a set of techniques and activities designed to help your child reach these outcomes:

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• Increased caregiver/parent and child interaction

• Increased social interaction of child with autism

• Improved social-emotional development of child with autism

• Improved autism-related diagnostic category/symptoms including behavioral compliance.

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Our certified PLAY Project Consultants are specialists in the fields of child development and autism spectrum disorders who are trained to educate, guide, and support you as you learn to nurture your child’s social and emotional development, but we consider you, as parents and caregivers, to be the expert on your child. 

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What is a typical PLAY Visit like?

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Your PLAY Project Consultant coaches you in the PLAY Project methods, principles, and techniques so you can help deliver the intervention with your child throughout your everyday interactions.  During visits, you and the PLAY Project Consultant work with your child.  Siblings and other caregivers are welcome to join in the play-based activities, too.  Our Consultants show you practical ways of making every interaction with your child a growing and learning experience. Bath-time, meals, outdoor play: each of these daily routines can be used to help your child build meaningful relationships.  To keep your child’s autism intervention at the high intensity level, we recommend 2 hours per day of PLAY-time between caregiver and child; this can usually be done in multiple 15-20-minute sessions. Families report that this time is enjoyable and does fit into their schedules.

 

How long is a PLAY Project Session?  

 

• Ten to twelve 1.5-hour visits per year that includes a total of 15 minutes of video tape interaction between parent and child (coaching) and PLAY consultant and child (modeling).

• A PLAY Plan is sent within 2 weeks of each visit with detailed PLAY recommendations for methods, techniques, and activities.  

• Family support (to get resources, help with school, etc.)

 

What can I expect at my first PLAY Project visit? 

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At the first visit, the certified PLAY Project Consultant gets to know you and your family and explains the basic elements of what will occur in future visits and answers your questions.  Our PLAY Project Consultants are partners in your child’s progress.  

 

We will collect the following information at the first visit:

• Your child’s background

• The current services your child is receiving

• Formal and informal assessments to establish your child’s baseline for autism behaviors and levels of cognitive, language, adaptive, social, and sensory functioning

 

The interaction between the PLAY Project Consultant and the Caregiver includes: 

• A discussion of the PLAY Project intervention; length of time differs whether you have watched the play Project DVD Workshop (recommended).

• A discussion about the PLAY Project consultant’s role as your coach 

• Establishing a mutual formal agreement detailing the obligations and expectations for both the PLAY Project Consultant and the caregivers.  

 

Next, your PLAY Project Consultant will observe and video record you and your child in natural play for 15-20 minutes. Beginning at this session or the next, your PLAY Project Consultant will begin coaching and modelling techniques for increasing interaction between you and your child.  No special toys are needed. 

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What are regular PLAY Project Visits like? 

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In between coaching and modelling, the PLAY Project Consultant will assess your child’s progress and videotape short playful interactions between you and your child.   This monthly video analysis helps the PLAY Project Consultant develop an ongoing PLAY Plan with individualized suggestions and recommendations for you to help your child keep making progress. 

 

What can I expect after each visit? 

Within 2 weeks of the first visit and every monthly visit, your PLAY Consultant will send you:

1. A video of you and your child’s playful interaction 

2. A written assessment and PLAY Plan

3. Written coaching feedback and detailed recommendations 

4. Supplemental handouts that will guide you in playing and interacting with your child 

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How do I get started?

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Contact the PLAY Project Consultant who has been assigned to you or the Ann Arbor Center for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

 

How much does the PLAY Project cost?

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The fee is calculated by number of sessions. Families typically sign up for 6 to 10 monthly visits per year, with 10 visits being the recommendation for intensive intervention. Most families continue services for 1-2 years. 

 

The cost per session includes

a.) the 3-hour home or clinic visit 

b.) the video feedback session and 

c.) Ginny THames clinical supervision 

 

For home visits, a travel fee, based on the distance between the PLAY Consultant and your home, may be added to your costs. Travel fees are built into the agreement total and billed on a prorated monthly basis (i.e. your total cost is divided by 12 months)

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Is there evidence that the PLAY Project works?   

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Yes, there is a base of research and evidence for PLAY Project autism intervention. Results from a randomized controlled trial of PLAY Project was published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics in 2014. This large-scale study focused on the impact of PLAY autism intervention: a parent-implemented (a.k.a. parent-mediated) play and relationship focused program.  The research study showed the significant improvements below.

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Significant improvements in:

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• caregiver/parent and child interaction

• social interaction of children with autism

• social-emotional development of children with autism

• autism-related diagnostic category/symptoms including behavioral compliance

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Secondary outcomes:

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• Improved parent stress and depression; and

• PLAY Project consultant were to true to the model (showed fidelity).

 

Additional Evidence for PLAY Project Autism Intervention

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The PLAY Project early intervention program reduces autism symptomology and improves social impairment, a core deficit of children with autism.

The principles, methods, and techniques of the PLAY Project were developed on evidence-based practices in autism early intervention.  For example, PLAY Project addresses the following:

• Use of a parent‐mediated model for ASD (Wong C, Odom S, Hume K, Cox, et al, 2013)

• Meets the National Research Centers standards for intensive early intervention (2001)

 

How does ABA differ from the PLAY Project?

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There are similarities and differences between ABA and the PLAY Project.  The most important considerations are that they both are evidenced-based, and both meet the requirements for an intensive autism intervention according to the National Research Council (2001). PLAY and ABA are complementary because they address different and equally important aspects of what the child with ASD needs.  Many children can benefit from receiving both types of intensive intervention and PLAY Project is a great way to get started with autism intervention while on waiting lists for additional services including ABA. 

 

PLAY Project results in improved social interaction, a skill necessary for all others including educational readiness.  Therefore, when the child has reached a certain level of social and language development, we recommend adding ABA to strengthen skills and get ready for school.   

Comparison of Developmental and Behavioral Approaches

Area 

Developmental & Behavioral 

PLAY Project  

Behavioral 

ABA 

Parent Role 

Parents as the expert; helping the child as a PLAY partner and being coached by professionals 

Parents often not involved in direct ABA services 

Emphasis 

Social interaction 

Educational readiness 

Initiation 

Child Initiated 

Program Initiated 

Philosophy 

Follow child’s readiness 

Meet Program Goals 

Structure 

Strategic and Flexible 

More Highly Prescribed 

Intensity 

15-20 hours/week, 1 on 1 focus on social interaction 

20-40 hours per week, 1 on 1, focus on gaining skills 

Interaction 

Playful, social interaction 

Task lists and checklists 

Environment 

More Naturalistic 

More Controlled 

Generalization to Other Settings 

Early Generalization Common 

Later Generalization Typical 

Outcome 

Relationship, Social Skills Language and Feelings 

Competence in Varied Skills especially cognitive & academic 

 

What are the best resources for understanding the PLAY Project approach?

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The Welcome to The PLAY Project Introductory online course is a great introduction to the PLAY Project and can be purchased directly from www.playproject.org: https://www.playproject.org/project/play-project-introductory-online-course/. Additional resources are available at www.playproject.org.