View in EDS

'Where the H*ck Are We Going to Get a Real Dragon From?' A Mixed Methods Study Investigating Gender Differences of Playtime Behaviours of Autistic Children in Mainstream Primary School

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: 'Where the H*ck Are We Going to Get a Real Dragon From?' A Mixed Methods Study Investigating Gender Differences of Playtime Behaviours of Autistic Children in Mainstream Primary School
Language: English
Authors: Hannah Kemp, Rebecca J. Ward (ORCID 0000-0001-7703-8670), Henry Wood-Downie (ORCID 0000-0003-4965-7778)
Source: Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs. 2026 26(2).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Descriptors: Gender Differences, Play, Child Behavior, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Elementary School Students, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom (England)
DOI: 10.1111/1471-3802.70085
ISSN: 1471-3802
Abstract: Play is a human right and a vital part of development, highlighting the importance of school playtime. Play is considered an area of fundamental difference for autistic children, which may present differently in autistic boys and girls. Previous research has rarely explored what children want from their playtime or examined whether this aligns with their actual play behaviours, while also accounting for potential gender differences. Accordingly, this mixed-methods study investigates what autistic boys and girls want from their playtime, examines whether this reflects their actual play behaviours, and explores gender differences in these behaviours and experiences. Findings suggest participants wanted agency over what they played with, access to plenty of resources, specific conditions for play, and the presence of others. Autistic boys tended to want peers to play a game with, whereas autistic girls preferred a small group of classmates to play alongside. Observational data tentatively suggest autistic girls spent most of their time in solitary play or joint engagement, while autistic boys were more likely to engage in games or solitary play. Interestingly, differences between observed playtime behaviour and participants' descriptions of their ideal playtime were identified. A clearer understanding of these gendered patterns can help schools design varied play spaces and opportunities that reflect autistic children's diverse preferences, supporting agency, inclusion, and wellbeing.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1503999
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1503999
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: 'Where the H*ck Are We Going to Get a Real Dragon From?' A Mixed Methods Study Investigating Gender Differences of Playtime Behaviours of Autistic Children in Mainstream Primary School
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hannah+Kemp%22">Hannah Kemp</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rebecca+J%2E+Ward%22">Rebecca J. Ward</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7703-8670">0000-0001-7703-8670</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Henry+Wood-Downie%22">Henry Wood-Downie</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4965-7778">0000-0003-4965-7778</externalLink>)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Research+in+Special+Educational+Needs%22"><i>Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs</i></searchLink>. 2026 26(2).
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 12
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gender+Differences%22">Gender Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Play%22">Play</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Behavior%22">Child Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Autism+Spectrum+Disorders%22">Autism Spectrum Disorders</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+School+Students%22">Elementary School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom+%28England%29%22">United Kingdom (England)</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1111/1471-3802.70085
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1471-3802
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Play is a human right and a vital part of development, highlighting the importance of school playtime. Play is considered an area of fundamental difference for autistic children, which may present differently in autistic boys and girls. Previous research has rarely explored what children want from their playtime or examined whether this aligns with their actual play behaviours, while also accounting for potential gender differences. Accordingly, this mixed-methods study investigates what autistic boys and girls want from their playtime, examines whether this reflects their actual play behaviours, and explores gender differences in these behaviours and experiences. Findings suggest participants wanted agency over what they played with, access to plenty of resources, specific conditions for play, and the presence of others. Autistic boys tended to want peers to play a game with, whereas autistic girls preferred a small group of classmates to play alongside. Observational data tentatively suggest autistic girls spent most of their time in solitary play or joint engagement, while autistic boys were more likely to engage in games or solitary play. Interestingly, differences between observed playtime behaviour and participants' descriptions of their ideal playtime were identified. A clearer understanding of these gendered patterns can help schools design varied play spaces and opportunities that reflect autistic children's diverse preferences, supporting agency, inclusion, and wellbeing.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1503999
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1503999
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1111/1471-3802.70085
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Gender Differences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Play
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Child Behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Autism Spectrum Disorders
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: United Kingdom (England)
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: 'Where the H*ck Are We Going to Get a Real Dragon From?' A Mixed Methods Study Investigating Gender Differences of Playtime Behaviours of Autistic Children in Mainstream Primary School
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Hannah Kemp
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Rebecca J. Ward
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Henry Wood-Downie
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 04
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1471-3802
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 26
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs
              Type: main
ResultId 1