The Effectiveness of Adapted Physical Activity in the Development of Motor Skills in Children Aged 3 to 6 Years With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may experience delays in motor skill development or follow atypical developmental trajectories. Therefore, supporting motor skills during early childhood is considered crucial. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of adapted physical activity (APA) in enhancing the motor skills of children aged 3 to 6 years with ASD. The study included three children with ASD between the ages of 3 and 6. A single-subject research design utilizing a multiple-baseline model across participants was employed. The APA program was developed and implemented by the researchers, taking into account the children’s ages, autism symptoms, and individual abilities. Motor skills were assessed using a researcher-designed checklist during baseline, instructional, probe, maintenance, and generalization sessions. Research data were analyzed through visual analysis techniques. Findings indicated a significant difference between the baseline and post-intervention data for all three participants. Furthermore, the skills acquired during the intervention were maintained during follow-up sessions and successfully generalized in the generalization sessions. Social validity data collected from the families of the participating children further confirmed the effectiveness of the APA program. In conclusion, APA was found to be effective in improving the motor skills of children with ASD.