Play for Children with Special Needs

There are many more children with learning differences and difficulties in our schools today.  Their needs are varied and complex and professionals must find appropriate ways to enhance their learning. The value of play is endorsed in policy initiatives including The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum, so professionals can be reassured that ‘more time to play’ is in line with the latest thinking.

Christine Macintyre emphasises the importance of creating an environment where children become confident, independent learners, increasingly able to use their imaginations, care for others and to take safe risks.  This fully revised edition of Play for Children with Special Needs includes new research findings and explains their implications for practice.

This book then enables those supporting children to:

understand the benefits of play and how to adapt different scenarios to support children who do not find it easy to play

observe children as they play so that any difficulties can be identified early

analyse different play areas so that the different kinds of learning (intellectual, creative, motor, social and emotional) are appreciated.


Play for Children with Special Needs, 2nd edition enables practitioners to appreciate the contribution that play makes to the education of all children, whether they have special needs or not.  It is for parents, teachers, teaching assistants and nursery professionals as well as those who care for children at home.