The use of the game in the education and development skills of children with autism - positions and views of parents and teachers of special education educators

Abstract

According to the literature review, play, as one of the most important activities of the child, is a primary factor of development and has a decisive influence on the learning process. Good play lays the foundation for the perfect development of the child and covers a wide range of skills, such as aesthetic, motor, mental and social. By offering the child the ideal conditions of entertainment, we invest in his future and contribute in the best way to the formation of his personality. The aim of this research proposal is the positions and views of parents and teachers of special education and training on the importance of play in the learning process of children with autism. The research was conducted in primary and secondary schools. The research population for the first research question is 80 parents of children with autism and for the second question there are 150 special education teachers in primary and secondary education. Our sample was selected as representative of the population. For this reason, we select selective sampling according to which we select for the sample the school members who are available to participate in the research. The questionnaire was used as a methodological tool, namely 2 questionnaires, one for teachers and one for parents. The type of questions is closed-ended and the Likertscale is graded from negative to positive and the research subject will be asked to choose one of the five points. This scale represents 5 points between which the distances are equal and we have used numbers to find the gradations of the variables. The methodology of this research is the quantitative and descriptive analysis of the data (averages and frequencies) to identify the main trends in the responses of parents and teachers. For data analysis, we will use SPSS (Social Science Statistical Package). With the help of SPSS it is possible to perform different analyzes, measure functions and present statistical results. For the analysis of the information we used the descriptive statistics, describing the various statistical data after collection and classification of the statistical data which are then presented in the form of analysis intables, charts with characteristic values, or properties. The results of the research showed that play is one of the main occupations of the child, as well as a key element in all educational programs. The necessity of play in the educational process of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), especially children with autism, is a key factor in the development of skills, decisively influencing the learning process.The game contributes to the development of many skills, such as social, motor, language, aesthetic, and lays the foundation for a proper development and shaping of the personality of children with autism, making the learning process enjoyable and creative.