Fostering Preschoolers Positive Behaviour and Attitude Towards Down Syndrome by Down Syndrome Doll Play
2019
textabstractThe current pilot study examines pre-schooler’s play behaviour
involving dolls with and without facial characteristics of Down
syndrome over a period of 16 weeks. Play behaviours were
categorized into one of 3 behavioural categories with predefined
observational scoring grids: prosocial, antisocial, or neutral/no
behaviour. Participants also individually received an adapted
version of the Preschool Racial Attitude Measure, to assess inand outgroup attitudes of participants towards children with
Down syndrome. Positive and negative attitudes and behaviours
towards Down syndrome dolls were analysed over time with pre
and post-measurements. Results showed that, whereas children
showed negative behaviour towards the Down syndrome doll at
the start of the experiment, this negative behaviour disappeared
by the end of the experiment. Furthermore, children showed
significantly more positive play behaviour during the experiment
towards the Down syndrome dolls. The results of this pilot study
indicate that playing with Down syndrome dolls at preschool age
can potentially be used as a low cost, non-invasive prevention
program to foster future positive behaviours towards Down syndrome, setting the stage for interactions with real children with
Down syndrome in inclusive education. Implications for meeting
the needs of children with Down syndrome and their peers in
inclusive education are discussed.
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