Impact of preliminary games on some social and emotional traits of autistic children

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of a preparatory games program on the development of social and emotional traits in children with autism in the city of Tobruk. It also sought to identify the extent of change in these characteristics resulting from the program. The researcher adopted an experimental design utilizing a one-group pre-test/post-test methodology. The study sample consisted of eight children with autism، selected purposively from the Tobruk Autism Center. The findings indicated that the preparatory games program had a positive impact on enhancing the children's social and emotional traits. The program was found to align with the abilities، readiness، interests، and needs of the participants، promoting physical activity، social interaction، and engagement. A significant level of change and a large effect size in the targeted traits were observed following the program's implementation.