Sex-typical toy, activity, and playmate preferences in autistic and non-autistic children.

Researchers studied how 120 autistic and non-autistic children play, focusing on whether they prefer 'boy toys' or 'girl toys' and activities. They found that autistic boys were more likely to play with toys and activities typically preferred by girls, compared to non-autistic boys. Autistic girls played similarly to non-autistic girls. The study suggests autistic children, especially boys, may feel freer to play with whatever interests them, regardless of whether society considers it 'typical' for their gender.

This study examined sex-typical play patterns in 120 children aged 4-11 years, comparing autistic and non-autistic children without intellectual disability. Using multiple assessment methods including parent reports, self-reports, and direct observation, researchers found consistent medium to large differences between autistic and non-autistic boys across five play measures. Autistic boys showed less male-typical and more female-typical play preferences compared to their non-autistic peers, while maintaining similar cognitive abilities. No significant differences emerged between autistic and non-autistic girls.

The findings suggest autistic boys may be less constrained by traditional gender norms, while autistic girls may potentially camouflage non-conforming preferences.

Clinicians should recognize that non-conforming play in autistic boys is typical and not concerning. Assessment and intervention planning should consider individual play interests rather than gender-typical expectations. Further research is needed to understand potential masking behaviors in autistic girls.

The study did not examine children with intellectual disability, limiting generalizability. The sample of autistic girls was smaller than other groups. The potential role of camouflaging in girls was hypothesized but not directly measured or tested.

Play, in particular sex-typical play, is important for affective, cognitive, and social development. There is limited research on sex-typical play in autistic children. The few prior studies on this topic relied heavily on reports or involvement of caregivers/parents, did not assess cognitive abilities, and examined a limited number of sex-typical play outcomes. The present study examined sex-typical play in 120 children without intellectual disability (30 autistic boys, 35 non-autistic boys, 20 autistic girls, 35 non-autistic girls) aged 4-11 years.

Vocabulary and abstract reasoning were also assessed. Consistently across all five play measures (parent-reported composite play, self-reported activity preferences, self-reported toy preferences, self-reported playmate preferences, and observed toy play), there were medium or large, and mostly significant, differences between autistic and non-autistic boys, suggesting less male-typical/more female-typical play in autistic boys. Autistic and non-autistic boys did not differ in vocabulary, abstract reasoning, or age. No consistent, clear, or significant patterns emerged in comparisons of autistic and non-autistic girls.

The more non-conforming play in autistic boys concurs with certain prior findings suggesting that the autistic community is not confined to social norms and shows increased gender diversity. The potential link between the unaltered play in autistic girls and camouflaging is considered.Lay abstractIn the non-autistic community, boys and girls tend to play differently, although these average differences do not apply to all the boys and girls. Little is known about similarities and differences in sex-typical play (e.g. playing with cars, playing with dolls, rough-and-tumble play, playing house) between autistic and non-autistic children. We looked at different aspects of sex-typical play such as toy, activity, and playmate preferences in autistic and non-autistic children without intellectual disability.

Different methods including parent reports, self-reports, and play observation were used. We found some average differences between autistic and non-autistic boys. On average, compared with non-autistic boys, autistic boys played in a more non-conforming manner (less male-typical/more female-typical toy, activity, and playmate preferences). These findings are consistent with observations from other research studies suggesting that autistic individuals may defy social norms and express themselves in diverse ways.

There were no differences between autistic and non-autistic girls. One possibility is that autistic girls may camouflage, or mask, their non-conforming play preferences, but further research is needed to test this possibility. The findings from this study can help families, professionals, and schools better understand how autistic boys and girls develop.