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Exploring Autistic Children’s Play Cycles Using the Play Cycle Observation Method (PCOM)

Eleanor Mugford, Peter King

International Journal of Playwork Practice, Volume: 6, Issue: 1

Swansea University Authors: Eleanor Mugford, Peter King

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DOI (Published version): 10.25035/ijpp.06.01.03

Abstract

The Play Cycle Observation Method (PCOM) enables researchers to observe and record the process of play based on the theory of the Play Cycle. While the PCOM has been used with both video footage and in real-time observation of neurotypical children, it has not previously been applied with neurodiver...

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Published in: International Journal of Playwork Practice
ISSN: 2689-9124
Published: Bowling Green State University 2026
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71710
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spelling 2026-05-06T15:02:55.0365440 v2 71710 2026-04-02 Exploring Autistic Children’s Play Cycles Using the Play Cycle Observation Method (PCOM) 98fddcd33a479538ae8c7a889599c80e Eleanor Mugford Eleanor Mugford true false b51f47c6c82135914b7612fdbc84f94b Peter King Peter King true false 2026-04-02 The Play Cycle Observation Method (PCOM) enables researchers to observe and record the process of play based on the theory of the Play Cycle. While the PCOM has been used with both video footage and in real-time observation of neurotypical children, it has not previously been applied with neurodivergent children. This study involved ten one-hour naturalistic PCOM observations with nine autistic children during play sessions. The results demonstrated variability in play processes, with several styles of play behaviour observed, including differences in how play was initiated, sustained, and terminated. The findings both corroborate and challenge strands of the existing literature on autistic play, contributing to the development of practice-informed, real-world applications, supporting play interaction for autistic children. Journal Article International Journal of Playwork Practice 6 1 Bowling Green State University 2689-9124 1 4 2026 2026-04-01 10.25035/ijpp.06.01.03 COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Not Required 2026-05-06T15:02:55.0365440 2026-04-02T11:17:24.4755233 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences School of Social Sciences - Education and Childhood Studies Eleanor Mugford 1 Peter King 2 71710__36667__0f7ed30a33f84e6ca257c7e10322f3ad.pdf 71710.VOR.pdf 2026-05-06T13:57:50.2104762 Output 883073 application/pdf Version of Record true This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
title Exploring Autistic Children’s Play Cycles Using the Play Cycle Observation Method (PCOM)
spellingShingle Exploring Autistic Children’s Play Cycles Using the Play Cycle Observation Method (PCOM)
Eleanor Mugford
Peter King
title_short Exploring Autistic Children’s Play Cycles Using the Play Cycle Observation Method (PCOM)
title_full Exploring Autistic Children’s Play Cycles Using the Play Cycle Observation Method (PCOM)
title_fullStr Exploring Autistic Children’s Play Cycles Using the Play Cycle Observation Method (PCOM)
title_full_unstemmed Exploring Autistic Children’s Play Cycles Using the Play Cycle Observation Method (PCOM)
title_sort Exploring Autistic Children’s Play Cycles Using the Play Cycle Observation Method (PCOM)
author_id_str_mv 98fddcd33a479538ae8c7a889599c80e
b51f47c6c82135914b7612fdbc84f94b
author_id_fullname_str_mv 98fddcd33a479538ae8c7a889599c80e_***_Eleanor Mugford
b51f47c6c82135914b7612fdbc84f94b_***_Peter King
author Eleanor Mugford
Peter King
author2 Eleanor Mugford
Peter King
format Journal article
container_title International Journal of Playwork Practice
container_volume 6
container_issue 1
publishDate 2026
institution Swansea University
issn 2689-9124
doi_str_mv 10.25035/ijpp.06.01.03
publisher Bowling Green State University
college_str Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
department_str School of Social Sciences - Education and Childhood Studies{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Social Sciences - Education and Childhood Studies
document_store_str 1
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description The Play Cycle Observation Method (PCOM) enables researchers to observe and record the process of play based on the theory of the Play Cycle. While the PCOM has been used with both video footage and in real-time observation of neurotypical children, it has not previously been applied with neurodivergent children. This study involved ten one-hour naturalistic PCOM observations with nine autistic children during play sessions. The results demonstrated variability in play processes, with several styles of play behaviour observed, including differences in how play was initiated, sustained, and terminated. The findings both corroborate and challenge strands of the existing literature on autistic play, contributing to the development of practice-informed, real-world applications, supporting play interaction for autistic children.
published_date 2026-04-01T07:56:46Z
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score 11.10461

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