THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PLAY AND COMMUNICATION-SKILLS IN YOUNG-CHILDREN WITH DOWN-SYNDROME

The relationship between play scores and communication skills measured in two ways was investigated in 19 young children with Down syndrome. When play competence, as observed in a play arena, was compared to mo thers' perceptions of receptive and expressive communication skills, m oderate and significant correlations were found. When play skills were compared to six language production measures, play was moderately and significantly correlated with only one measure, mean length of uttera nce in morphemes. Implications for these findings and for team assessm ents are discussed.