A Close Look at the Cognitive Play of Preschoolers with Visual Impairments in the Home

Abstract

The cognitive play of 13 children with visual impairments approximately 40 months of age was observed while playing alone in their homes. Three play categories adapted from Belsky and Most's (1981) hypothesized sequence of development of exploration and play for typical children and nonplay were coded for frequency and duration. The findings revealed that children with visual impairments showed significant differences in play compared to the earlier documented play schemes for sighted children in the Belsky and Most's study (1981). Over half of the play behaviors were in the category of exploration and sensorimotor play, and symbolic play accounted for less than 4% of play. These findings are discussed in terms of interventions at home and in school.